Election News Trends – September 2026

Source	Date	Title	Summary of Report	Subject/Category	Page No./Weblink
PREMIUM TIMES	30TH SEPTEMBER 2026	Borno Police arrest five men over wearing 'Tinubu Must Go' T-shirts	The Nigeria Police Force in Borno State charged five men — Baba Aji Gremami, Mustapha Abba Yemen, Abacha Mohammed Ali, Adam Umar Gubio and Abdulhamid Mohammed — with criminal conspiracy, inciting disturbance, disturbing public peace and thuggery over T-shirts bearing the inscription "Tinubu Must Go." Amnesty International condemned the arrests as criminalising peaceful political dissent and accused the Borno State government of targeting opposition supporters, calling for the charges to be dropped. The Borno Police Command had not issued an official statement as of the report.	TINUBU MUST GO; BORNO STATE; FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION; AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL	PREMIUM TIMES
ARISE NEWS	30TH SEPTEMBER 2026	2027: Kwara PDP Alleges Importation Of Foreign Nationals For Elections, Seeks INEC Probe	Kwara State PDP Chairman Isa Bawa Adamu alleged that foreign nationals were being brought into Baruten Local Government Area and issued voter cards ahead of the 2027 elections, without providing documentary evidence, and called on INEC to investigate. He also urged INEC to probe the removal of PDP billboards and to discourage personal-attack campaigning in favour of candidate debates. The claims came during a PDP pre-election training workshop for over 3,000 party women in Ilorin.	2027 ELECTIONS; KWARA STATE; PDP; VOTER REGISTRATION	ARISE NEWS
DAILY TRUST	30TH SEPTEMBER 2026	Oyo Assembly passes state police bill	The Oyo State House of Assembly passed the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026, providing a constitutional framework for state police services, after clause-by-clause consideration led by Speaker Adebo Ogundoyin. Edo, Rivers and Osun assemblies had already passed the bill, which needs concurrence from at least 24 of the 36 state assemblies to take effect.	STATE POLICE; OYO STATE; CONSTITUTION AMENDMENT; NATIONAL ASSEMBLY	DAILY TRUST
DAILY TRUST	30TH SEPTEMBER 2026	After 68 days vacation, lawmakers embark on another recess	The National Assembly resumed briefly on Tuesday after a 68-day annual recess that began July 23 and was extended past its planned mid-September return due to sound-system repairs. Both chambers adjourned again until October 13, with the Senate saying the date aligns with the end of its National Security Summit on intelligence and territorial security. Lawmakers are expected to resume full committee work in mid-October.	NATIONAL ASSEMBLY; LEGISLATIVE RECESS; SECURITY SUMMIT	DAILY TRUST
DAILY TRUST	30TH SEPTEMBER 2026	Supreme Court judgement: INEC to move against erring candidates next week	INEC is reportedly considering sanctions against candidates whose primaries violated the 2026 Electoral Act's party membership-register provisions, following a recent Supreme Court judgment, though the court did not name specific candidates. A source said the commission is awaiting the Certified True Copy of the ruling before its legal department advises on action, given the September 12 and October 10 deadlines for publishing final candidate lists. Candidates including ex-IGP Mohammed Adamu, Isa Pantami, Kingsley Chinda, Shehu Buba and Mohammed Nami were named as potentially affected.	SUPREME COURT; INEC; 2027 ELECTIONS; PARTY PRIMARIES	DAILY TRUST
DAILY TRUST	30TH SEPTEMBER 2026	Obidient Movement rejects INEC's plan to deploy AI during 2027 poll	The Obidient Movement, led by national coordinator Yunusa Tanko, rejected INEC's plan to deploy Artificial Intelligence in the 2027 elections, arguing the commission has not explained the technology's operational framework or safeguards against manipulation. Tanko cited a Mundx Analytics investigation alleging presidential results from over 50,000 polling units were uploaded via mobile phones, and demanded INEC publish a full roadmap and submit to an independent technology audit.	INEC; ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE; 2027 ELECTIONS; ELECTION TECHNOLOGY	DAILY TRUST
DAILY TRUST	30TH SEPTEMBER 2026	Governorship candidates sign peace accord in Adamawa	Governorship candidates in Adamawa State, including APC's Ahmed Tijjani Galadima and PDP's Maurice Vonobolki, signed a peace accord pledging issue-based, violence-free campaigns ahead of the 2027 elections. The summit was organised by the Adamawa State Peace Commission with the National Peace Committee, chaired by former Head of State Abdulsalami Abubakar, and The Kukah Centre.	2027 ELECTIONS; ADAMAWA STATE; PEACE ACCORD; POLITICAL VIOLENCE	DAILY TRUST
GUARDIAN	30TH SEPTEMBER 2026	Atiku demands publication of Nigeria-U.S. deal on health, mining	ADC presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar demanded the Federal Government publish Nigeria's five-year health MoU with the United States, signed December 2025, raising concerns over patient data, pathogen samples and funding obligations similar to those that led Ghana to reject a comparable compact. He separately, through media adviser Paul Ibe, demanded publication of a Nigeria-U.S. mining agreement covering minerals valued by the government at $700 billion, questioning what minerals it covers, tax terms and whether processing must occur locally.	ATIKU ABUBAKAR; NIGERIA-US RELATIONS; HEALTH POLICY; MINING SECTOR	GUARDIAN
PREMIUM TIMES	29TH SEPTEMBER 2026	Lawyer sues NDC over alleged refusal to announce Anambra primary result	Lawyer Obunike Ohaegbu sued the NDC at the Federal High Court in Abuja, alleging the party refused to announce the result of its May 2026 primary for the Nnewi North/Nnewi South/Ekwusigo Federal Constituency, which he claims he won, and instead secretly adopted Peter Uzokwe as candidate. He is seeking an order declaring him the winner and barring NDC and INEC from recognising any other nominee; the case was adjourned to October 14 after hearing notices had not been served on all defendants.	2027 ELECTIONS; ANAMBRA STATE; NDC; PARTY PRIMARIES	PREMIUM TIMES
DAILY TRUST	29TH SEPTEMBER 2026	Gombe PDP primary: Mailantarki Declares self Winner, vows fresh suit against Pantami	After Isa Ali Pantami was declared winner of the PDP's rerun governorship primary in Gombe, rival aspirant Khamisu Ahmed Mailantarki declared himself the winner instead, arguing a Supreme Court judgment meant Pantami was ineligible to contest since he was still an APC member at the time of the original May primary. Mailantarki, who came second, vowed to pursue the matter through litigation up to the Supreme Court.	GOMBE STATE; PDP; PARTY PRIMARIES; ISA PANTAMI	DAILY TRUST
PREMIUM TIMES	29TH SEPTEMBER 2026	ADC lawmakers ask IGP to probe arrest of party members in Kebbi	ADC lawmakers under the National Assembly Caucus, led by Senator Garba Maidoki, called on the Inspector-General of Police to investigate the arrest and detention of party members in Kebbi State, alleging the arrests were unlawful and linked to their political affiliation. The caucus said it would petition the Police Service Commission and Amnesty International over alleged excessive use of police powers against opposition supporters, and urged the judiciary to exercise independence in matters affecting the detainees' liberty.	ADC; KEBBI STATE; POLICE; POLITICAL DETENTION	PREMIUM TIMES
PREMIUM TIMES	29TH SEPTEMBER 2026	UPDATED: Tinubu returns to Nigeria after four weeks abroad	President Bola Tinubu returned to Nigeria on Tuesday evening after a four-week working vacation in the UK and France, landing in Lagos where he was received by the Speaker of the House, the Deputy Senate President, and the Lagos and Kwara governors. The Presidency said Tinubu chose to land in Lagos first to honour MKO Abiola and would hold political meetings there ahead of the 2027 elections before returning to Abuja; his extended absence, including a third consecutive UNGA no-show, had drawn public concern.	BOLA TINUBU; PRESIDENCY; 2027 ELECTIONS	PREMIUM TIMES
GUARDIAN	29TH SEPTEMBER 2026	Ogun 2027: Shun actions capable of triggering violence, Abiodun tells police	Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun urged police personnel to avoid becoming catalysts for violence ahead of the 2027 elections, speaking at an election-security workshop organised by the state police command. State Commissioner of Police Bode Ojajuni called on parties, candidates and supporters to avoid violence, intimidation and thuggery, describing election security as a shared responsibility among security agencies, parties, observers and the media.	OGUN STATE; 2027 ELECTIONS; ELECTORAL VIOLENCE; POLICE	GUARDIAN
PREMIUM TIMES	29TH SEPTEMBER 2026	Akpabio speaks on lingering security challenges, urges unity ahead of 2027 polls	Senate President Godswill Akpabio, addressing the chamber's return from a nine-week recess, sympathised with victims of kidnapping, terrorism and flooding, citing SBM Intelligence data showing 7,825 people kidnapped in 1,411 incidents between July 2025 and June 2026 with at least ₦7.78 billion paid in ransom. He called for legislative action to strengthen citizen protection and, ahead of the 2027 campaign season, urged candidates and senators to avoid violence and conduct themselves with unity and dignity.	GODSWILL AKPABIO; SENATE; INSECURITY; 2027 ELECTIONS	PREMIUM TIMES
VANGUARD	29TH SEPTEMBER 2026	Ogun 2027 guber: PDP dismisses claims challenging Adebutu's eligibility	The Ogun State PDP dismissed as baseless and politically motivated claims by the Ogun Democratic Accountability Forum questioning governorship candidate Oladipupo Adebutu's eligibility over his party membership register status, saying he remains a duly registered and financially active member and that all INEC submission requirements were met on time. The party accused APC-aligned elements of promoting the claims to distract from questions it raised about Senator Solomon Adeola's political base and the location of federal constituency projects in Ogun State.	OGUN STATE; 2027 ELECTIONS; PDP; PARTY ELIGIBILITY	VANGUARD
CHANNELS TV	29TH SEPTEMBER 2026	Pantami Wins PDP Gombe Governorship Primary Rerun	Isa Ali Pantami won the PDP's Gombe governorship primary rerun with 2,054 votes, defeating Khamisu Mailantarki (389 votes) and Aliyu Garry (112 votes), after a Federal High Court nullified his earlier May primary win over non-compliance with party rules and the Electoral Act. The court had declined to disqualify Pantami over allegations he remained an APC member at the time, and cleared all three aspirants to contest the rerun.	GOMBE STATE; PDP; PARTY PRIMARIES; ISA PANTAMI	CHANNELS TV
CHANNELS TV	29TH SEPTEMBER 2026	Suspected Bandits Abduct Farmers In Niger State, Demand ₦2m Ransom Each	Suspected bandits abducted farmers harvesting groundnuts at Tungan Rimi in Mariga LGA, Niger State, with the local government chairman putting the toll at 47 and saying the attackers are demanding ₦2 million per victim; he said one abducted woman gave birth in captivity. Police gave a lower, differing figure of more than 20 people abducted at Mukura village, and said joint security operations to rescue the victims were ongoing.	NIGER STATE; BANDITRY; KIDNAPPING; INSECURITY	CHANNELS TV
CHANNELS TV	29TH SEPTEMBER 2026	Obi, Kwankwaso Visits Sultan Of Sokoto, Calls For Unity, Security	NDC presidential candidate Peter Obi and running mate Rabiu Kwankwaso paid a courtesy visit to the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa'ad Abubakar III, ahead of town-hall engagements in the state, discussing national unity, security, poverty and employment. Obi said the Sultan, whom he has known since 1980, identified security, poverty and employment as Nigeria's critical priorities and urged that the country's ethnic diversity be treated as a strength.	PETER OBI; NDC; SOKOTO STATE; 2027 ELECTIONS	CHANNELS TV
GUARDIAN	29TH SEPTEMBER 2026	INEC announces PVC collection from October 9	INEC announced that collection of newly printed Permanent Voter Cards will begin nationwide on October 9, 2026, ahead of the 2027 general election, disclosed by Supervising National Commissioner for Kaduna, Mohammed Haruna, at a North-West zonal readiness meeting. INEC Chairman Joash Amupitan said administrative lapses such as late polling-unit openings could undermine public confidence, as the commission conducts a six-zone readiness tour ahead of the simultaneous 2027 polls.	INEC; PERMANENT VOTER CARDS; 2027 ELECTIONS	GUARDIAN
THE NATION NEWSPAPER	29TH SEPTEMBER	War Against Kidnapping: Edo State delivers judgment in first Special Court Verdict in Kidnapping Case	The Edo State Special Court for the hearing of cultism and kidnapping cases has begun delivering judgment in its first case involving four alleged kidnappers. The court premises were crowded on Tuesday as residents and other interested persons gathered to hear the outcome of the case. The four defendants — Marvellous Isaac, 32; Wisdom Michael, 36; Rufus Emete Michael, 30; and Gift Raphael, 27 — were charged with alleged kidnapping, armed robbery, cultism and unlawful possession of firearms. They were accused of kidnapping Oseghale Precious in broad daylight at the vegetable market along Airport Road, Benin City. Other alleged victims named in the case were Lawani Alex, Nosa Blessing and Idehen Owenaze.	KIDNAPPING; INSECURITY; JUDICIARY	THENATION
PREMIUM TIMES	29TH SEPTEMBER 2026	Three women killed in Plateau mining site attack	Gunmen attacked a mining site in Rakum community, Barkin Ladi LGA, Plateau State, on Monday afternoon, killing three women and injuring another person, according to the Berom Youth Moulders-Association and a community member. The attack came amid a dusk-to-dawn curfew recently imposed on Barkin Ladi, Mangu and Bokkos LGAs following a series of earlier attacks, and no immediate statement had come from police or the military.	PLATEAU STATE; BARKIN LADI; MINING SITE ATTACK; CURFEW	PREMIUM TIMES
PREMIUM TIMES	29TH SEPTEMBER 2026	Supreme Court Ruling: Ex-IGP insists he remains SDP candidate in Nasarawa	Former IGP Mohammed Adamu's campaign insisted the Supreme Court's 24 September judgment upholding Sections 77(5)-(7) and 84(2) of the Electoral Act 2026 does not disqualify him, nullify the SDP's membership register or invalidate the direct primary that produced him as the party's Nasarawa governorship candidate. INEC said it would obtain and review the certified judgment before deciding next steps, while Adamu, who replaced Musa Angbazo after a fresh primary involving 28,637 delegates, maintains his candidacy remains valid.	NASARAWA STATE; SDP; SUPREME COURT; ELECTORAL ACT 2026	PREMIUM TIMES
VANGUARD	29TH SEPTEMBER 2026	We'll reinstate subsidy after curbing corruption — Obi	NDC presidential candidate Peter Obi, at a Sokoto town hall for the Obi/Kwankwaso ticket, pledged to reinstate petroleum subsidy if elected in 2027 after first tackling corruption across all sectors, saying that by removing the corruption he could assure Nigerians the subsidy would return. Running mate Rabiu Kwankwaso said the delegation had met the Sultan of Sokoto, and the NDC's Sokoto governorship candidate, Shamsudeen Haido, pledged good governance if elected.	PETER OBI; NDC; FUEL SUBSIDY; SOKOTO STATE	VANGUARD
THISDAY	29TH SEPTEMBER 2026	Makinde: I'll Reset Nigeria, Provide New Security Architecture in Four Years	APM presidential candidate Seyi Makinde, at the party's North-Central Town Hall in Lafia, Nasarawa, said his administration could reset Nigeria's security, education, economy and socio-political environment within four years, citing Ibrahim Babangida's rapid democratic transition as precedent. He criticised the absence of budgetary provision for newly announced army divisions and questioned whether increased federation allocations to states had reduced hunger, while APM Chairman Yusuf Dantalle warned voters against selling their votes for token handouts.	SEYI MAKINDE; APM; NASARAWA STATE; SECURITY REFORM	THISDAY
ARISE	29TH SEPTEMBER 2026	Sowore: Presidency's Claim That Tinubu Is Hale And Hearty Is Misleading Nigerians	AAC presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore insisted President Tinubu is ill and undergoing treatment in France, citing unnamed reliable sources and Tinubu's physical appearance, and said the Presidency's assurances echo past claims made during the illnesses of Yar'Adua and Buhari. Sowore said his party would seek a court injunction citing Section 145 of the Constitution to compel the National Assembly to act on Tinubu's failure to formally transfer power after more than 21 days abroad, and separately criticised the DSS's handling of his own cyberstalking case.	OMOYELE SOWORE; PRESIDENT TINUBU; SECTION 145; AAC	ARISE
ARISE	29TH SEPTEMBER 2026	Rivers Assembly Backs State Police, Gives Fresh Boost to Tinubu's Security Reform	The Rivers State House of Assembly unanimously endorsed the proposed constitutional amendment to establish State Police Services, with all 25 lawmakers present voting in favour and none against, following transmission of the bill by the National Assembly on 16 September. Speaker Martin Amaewhule noted at least 24 of 36 state assemblies must approve the amendment for it to advance, as the state-police push continues to gather momentum nationwide.	RIVERS STATE; STATE POLICE; CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT; MARTIN AMAEWHULE	ARISE
DAILY TRUST	29TH SEPTEMBER 2026	Taraba deadly clash	A clash between Mambilla residents and Fulani pastoralists in Geroji settlements, Mbamnga ward, Sardauna LGA, Taraba State, has killed at least seven people, destroyed 186 livestock and razed over 340 homes, displacing more than 1,000 residents, some of whom fled into Cameroon. Governor Agbu Kefas ordered the arrest of perpetrators and postponed Taraba Tourism Day, while police and the army deployed a joint team, and analysts linked the violence to unresolved land and grazing disputes stretching back to 2007, 2012 and 2017.	TARABA STATE; MAMBILLA PLATEAU; COMMUNAL CLASH; DISPLACEMENT	DAILY TRUST
DAILY TRUST	29TH SEPTEMBER 2026	State police bill, 2027 budget top agenda as N'Assembly resumes	The National Assembly resumed plenary after its recess, with Senate Spokesman Yomi Adaramodu saying lawmakers would prioritise the final passage of the State Police Bill, which requires concurrence from at least 24 of 36 state assemblies, and the 2027 Appropriation Bill once submitted by the President. Other priorities include debates on abolishing State Independent Electoral Commissions or transferring local government election administration to INEC, oversight of the Police Trust Fund framework, and screening of accumulated presidential appointments.	NATIONAL ASSEMBLY; STATE POLICE; 2027 BUDGET; LEGISLATIVE AGENDA	DAILY TRUST
DAILY TRUST	29TH SEPTEMBER 2026	Kwara NDC moves to end crisis, unveils running mate to governorship candidate	The NDC in Kwara State handed over its state secretariat in Ilorin to the AbdulGaniyu AbdulSalam-led executive and unveiled retired teaching-service official Israel Ajayi Awolowo as running mate to governorship candidate Abdulmumin Olayinka Ajia, in a move aimed at ending an internal leadership dispute ahead of 2027. Ajia said the decision had the backing of the party's senatorial candidates and urged members to resolve differences through the party's recognised organs.	KWARA STATE; NDC; PARTY LEADERSHIP; 2027 ELECTIONS	DAILY TRUST
DAILY TRUST	29TH SEPTEMBER 2026	Pantami slugs it out with 2 others as Gombe PDP holds primary today	The Gombe PDP cleared Isa Pantami, Usman Garry and Khamisu Mailantarki to contest a fresh governorship primary on Tuesday, 29 September, in compliance with the Federal High Court's 24 September judgment nullifying Pantami's earlier emergence and ordering a rerun within 30 days. State Publicity Secretary Abdulkadir Dukku dismissed claims that Pantami had been barred, saying the party was unaware of any Supreme Court ruling preventing him from contesting.	GOMBE STATE; PDP; ISA PANTAMI; GOVERNORSHIP PRIMARY	DAILY TRUST
DAILY TRUST	29TH SEPTEMBER 2026	INEC sets zero-failure plan for 2027 polls	INEC Chairman Joash Amupitan, at a North-West zonal readiness meeting in Kaduna, unveiled a zero-failure operational plan for 2027, warning officials against partisanship and negligence and citing the Osun governorship election as a credibility benchmark ahead of the nationwide presidential and National Assembly polls on 16 January and governorship polls on 6 February. He said the three-phase Continuous Voter Registration produced 10,772,421 new registrations pending biometric verification, and announced new operational vehicles, a revised salary structure and a 150 per cent overhead increase for state offices since July 2026.	INEC; 2027 ELECTIONS; JOASH AMUPITAN; VOTER REGISTRATION	DAILY TRUST
VANGUARD	29TH SEPTEMBER 2026	Consulate seeks justice as three Nigerians killed in South Africa	Nigeria's Consul-General in Johannesburg, Ninikanwa Okey-Uche, called for justice over the deaths of three Nigerians in South Africa between 18 and 21 September: Kenechukwu Igwemmadu, who died jumping from a building while allegedly escaping police harassment in Bloemfontein; Olaniyi Olatunde, a security guard shot after an argument in Pretoria; and Christian Nnaemeka, who died after an alleged assault by a South African content creator's team in Ekurhuleni. She cited a similar February killing during an encounter with the same crew and urged Nigerians to remain calm and security-conscious amid renewed xenophobic concerns.	SOUTH AFRICA; NIGERIANS ABROAD; XENOPHOBIC VIOLENCE; CONSULATE-GENERAL	VANGUARD
PREMIUM TIMES	28TH SEPTEMBER 2026	Atiku seeks to amend suit challenging Tinubu's 2027 eligibility	Atiku Abubakar and the ADC asked the Federal High Court in Abuja for leave to amend their suit seeking Tinubu's disqualification from the 2027 race over an allegedly forged NYSC discharge certificate, seeking to correct a mislabelled INEC form and add a written deposition and clearer exhibits. Tinubu, the APC and INEC opposed the amendment as introducing a new cause of action and relief after the constitutional deadline, with the court fixing 13 October to hear the motion.	ATIKU ABUBAKAR; PRESIDENT TINUBU; NYSC CERTIFICATE; FEDERAL HIGH COURT	PREMIUM TIMES
PREMIUM TIMES	28TH SEPTEMBER 2026	Why Peter Obi doesn't deserve praise despite saving $150m — Anambra govt	Anambra Information Commissioner Law Mefor said Peter Obi's $150 million savings as governor reflected a lack of understanding of the purpose of government, arguing the funds should have been spent on infrastructure such as water, power and roads rather than earning bank interest while poverty deepened. Mefor reiterated the government's $123.7 million loan claim and disputed Obi's account of a N2.13 billion ecological fund, while Premium Times noted Obi did not, in the interview cited, specifically blame successor Willie Obiano for spending the savings.	PETER OBI; ANAMBRA STATE; LAW MEFOR; ANAMBRA DEBT	PREMIUM TIMES
PREMIUM TIMES	28TH SEPTEMBER 2026	APC wins all local council chairmanship, councillorship seats in Enugu	The APC won all 17 local government chairmanship seats and 260 councillorship seats in Saturday's Enugu State council elections, ENSIEC Chairman Christian Ngwu announced, with 12 chairpersons-elect re-elected and five elected for the first time. Ngwu praised voter participation and the conduct of security agencies, civil society and the media in the exercise.	ENUGU STATE; APC; LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS; ENSIEC	PREMIUM TIMES
VANGUARD	28TH SEPTEMBER 2026	2027: ADC accuses APC of parading 'imaginary' defectors	The ADC accused the APC of falsely presenting individuals as ADC House of Assembly candidates and leaders from Jigawa, Plateau, Taraba and Zamfara who had supposedly defected, with National Publicity Secretary Bolaji Abdullahi challenging the APC to name the offices, constituencies and dates these people held within the ADC. The party dismissed the APC's cited transformation of Northern Nigeria as unsupported by improvements in food prices, insecurity or household expenses.	ADC; APC; DEFECTION; BOLAJI ABDULLAHI	VANGUARD
CHANNELS TV	28TH SEPTEMBER 2026	37 Niger Miners' Deaths: Investigative Panel Assures Families Of Fair Probe	The 10-member Independent Investigative Committee probing the deaths of 37 artisanal miners in NSCDC custody in Minna, led by retired DSS deputy director-general Jonathan Kure, told Niger State Governor Umaru Bago during a courtesy visit that its medical team had begun work immediately to preserve evidence. Kure pledged a fair, independent probe that would apportion blame appropriately, and Bago pledged the state government's full cooperation.	NIGER STATE; NSCDC; MINERS DEATHS; INVESTIGATIVE PANEL	CHANNELS TV
PUNCH	28TH SEPTEMBER 2026	2027: Kenneth Okonkwo changes position on Obi's Anambra debt record	ADC spokesman Kenneth Okonkwo, Peter Obi's 2023 campaign spokesman, said on Television Continental's Sunday Politics that he was misled when he previously told Nigerians Obi left no debts, unpaid salaries, pensions or gratuities as Anambra governor, after the state government's disclosure that Obi's administration took eight loans and left water corporation workers unpaid. Okonkwo, now cross-examining rather than defending Obi ahead of 2027, also revisited his earlier defence of Obi's family over a wristwatch controversy involving Tinubu's son, saying he could no longer make the same claims.	KENNETH OKONKWO; PETER OBI; ANAMBRA DEBT; ADC	PUNCH
THE NATION	28TH SEPTEMBER 2026	NDC: Parallel governorship primaries create uncertainty in Plateau	The NDC in Plateau State faces uncertainty after two separate substitution primaries produced rival governorship candidates: state chairman Ndam's exercise on 15 September produced Alfred Dapal Damiyal, while a separate NWC-delegated primary produced Da Jonathan Sunday Akuns, who is backed by the national leadership. A suit filed at the Federal High Court in Jos by Umar Ashmar Jibrin seeks judicial determination of which primary is valid, naming INEC, the NDC, its NWC, the Plateau executive and Akuns as defendants, and the case had not been assigned a judge as of reporting.	PLATEAU STATE; NDC; GOVERNORSHIP PRIMARY; FEDERAL HIGH COURT	THE NATION
THE NATION	28TH SEPTEMBER 2026	2027: Oyo APM announces media, publicity committee for guber poll	APM Oyo governorship candidate Bimbo Adekanmbi named his media and publicity committee, with Nigerian Tribune deputy editor Yinka Oladoyinbo as director and spokesperson and Governor Seyi Makinde's media adviser Sulaimon Olanrewaju as co-director, alongside deputy directors including Ronke Giwa-Onafuwa, Dapo Falade, Bosede Sodiq, Moses Alao and Fisayo Daramola.	OYO STATE; APM; BIMBO ADEKANMBI; CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE	THE NATION
PREMIUM TIMES	28TH SEPTEMBER 2026	What records show about Anambra debt under Peter Obi, amid govt's $123.7m claim	Premium Times analysed Debt Management Office records showing Anambra's external debt rose from about $16.87 million in December 2006 to $30.32 million in December 2013, an increase of roughly 80 per cent but far below the $123.77 million in loan facilities the state government attributes to Peter Obi's tenure. State information commissioner Law Mefor said Obi signed eight World Bank loans and drew part of them without repaying, while the report found Obi's claim of leaving over $150 million in savings has not been refuted but his claim of leaving the state debt-free is inconsistent with the DMO figures and his own admission of about $30 million in external debt.	PETER OBI; ANAMBRA DEBT; DEBT MANAGEMENT OFFICE; CHARLES SOLUDO	PREMIUM TIMES
PREMIUM TIMES	28TH SEPTEMBER 2026	Presidency tries to assuage concerns as Tinubu fails to return as announced	The Presidency, through Bayo Onanuga, said President Tinubu is hale and hearty and will return this week after a working vacation abroad that began on August 30 in London and continued in Paris, following criticism that he failed to return as announced on September 21 and skipped the UN General Assembly. Peter Obi asked on X where Nigeria's president was, while a Turaki-led PDP faction, the ADC and some lawmakers questioned the constitutional implications of the prolonged absence. The Presidency said Tinubu would attend Independence Anniversary events and the Lagos premiere of a film on MKO Abiola.	PRESIDENT TINUBU; PRESIDENCY; PRESIDENTIAL ABSENCE; SECTION 145	PREMIUM TIMES
PREMIUM TIMES	28TH SEPTEMBER 2026	2027: APC campaign coordinator speaks on Tinubu's chances in South-west	Olusola Adeyeye, South-West coordinator of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, said Tinubu would not lose the South-West in 2027 if the APC stays united, warning that any party expecting an easy election was suffering self-delusion. He added that even if Tinubu lost the region he could still win, citing Olusegun Obasanjo's 1999 victory without carrying the South-West, and said the APC would win Osun despite its defeat in the August 15 governorship election.	OLUSOLA ADEYEYE; APC; SOUTH-WEST; 2027 ELECTIONS	PREMIUM TIMES
VANGUARD	28TH SEPTEMBER 2026	2027: Adebayo Campaign accuses Tinubu of violating Constitution over foreign stay	The Adewole Adebayo-Bugaje Presidential Campaign Council of the SDP accused President Tinubu of breaching Section 145(1) of the Constitution by staying abroad beyond 21 days without transmitting a written declaration to the National Assembly leadership so the Vice President could act. It also accused National Assembly leaders of complicity for not invoking Section 145(2), and urged voters to reject Tinubu and the APC in 2027.	SDP; ADEWOLE ADEBAYO; SECTION 145; PRESIDENT TINUBU	VANGUARD
VANGUARD	28TH SEPTEMBER 2026	Electoral Act: Supreme Court ruling unsettles PDP, opposition candidates	The Supreme Court's September 24 restoration of Sections 77(5) to 77(7) and 84(2) of the Electoral Act 2026 has opened a fresh legal front over the nominations of some PDP and other opposition candidates, since parties must rely on the membership register submitted to INEC at least 21 days before a primary and nominate through direct primaries or consensus. Candidates under scrutiny include PDP's Saliu Mustapha, Kolo Jiya, Iyabo Obasanjo and Olubiyi Fadeyi, though the judgment does not automatically disqualify anyone and each case would turn on the documentary record. The report also notes the Gombe PDP fresh primary involving Isa Pantami was fixed for September 29.	ELECTORAL ACT 2026; SUPREME COURT; PDP; CANDIDATE NOMINATIONS	VANGUARD
VANGUARD	28TH SEPTEMBER 2026	2027: Non-release of N371 billion to INEC threatens polls	With 111 days to the January 16, 2027 presidential and National Assembly elections, about N371 billion of INEC's N873.78 billion election budget remains unreleased after roughly N500 billion was received in June, raising concerns over PVC production, BVAS procurement, contractor payments and logistics. INEC said it is progressing on its 14-point timetable, while Chairman Joash Amupitan stressed that adequate funding and police neutrality are indispensable, and stakeholders asked how the first N500 billion has been used.	INEC; ELECTION FUNDING; 2027 ELECTIONS; BVAS	VANGUARD
GUARDIAN	28TH SEPTEMBER 2026	Bandits abduct five in Zamfara, kidnap couple in Kwara	Suspected bandits invaded Tsafe town in Zamfara State at about 1:30 a.m. and kidnapped five residents, including two women taken from the home of the father of a former chief of staff to Senator Abdul'aziz Abubakar, though an attempt on the house of a governor's aide failed. Separately, a newlywed couple, Abiodun David and Funmilayo Bamidele, were abducted on the Eruku-Iyemero road along the Kogi-Kwara border, with soldiers and police from three states combing the area.	ZAMFARA STATE; KWARA STATE; BANDITRY; KIDNAPPING	GUARDIAN
GUARDIAN	28TH SEPTEMBER 2026	NDC set to launch UK chapter as six guber candidates reject Lawal as North East leader	NDC National Leader Seriake Dickson said he will return to the UK later this year with Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso to formally launch the NDC-UK chapter, after meeting UK members in London following the inauguration of a Netherlands chapter. Meanwhile, six NDC governorship candidates in the North-East rejected the appointment of former SGF Babachir Lawal as the party's regional leader, calling their position collective, firm and final and complaining they were not consulted.	NDC; SERIAKE DICKSON; BABACHIR LAWAL; NORTH-EAST	GUARDIAN
GUARDIAN	28TH SEPTEMBER 2026	More ADC members defect to APC in Sokoto	Sanusi Kyame, a former PDP chairman in Sokoto North, and Umar Salah, a former ADC director-general in Tambuwal LGA, defected to the APC in Sokoto State after weekend meetings with Governor Ahmed Aliyu. Both cited the governor's leadership and development projects as reasons for the move and pledged support for him ahead of 2027.	SOKOTO STATE; ADC; APC; DEFECTION	GUARDIAN
ARISE	28TH SEPTEMBER 2026	2027: Umahi Says He Destroyed PDP In Ebonyi, Vows Party Won't Return	Works Minister Dave Umahi said he killed the PDP in Ebonyi State while governor and would not allow it to return, adding that he has no hand in PDP governorship candidate Ifeanyi Odii's aspiration or in anything that could jeopardise Governor Francis Nwifuru's re-election. He also said he had told his son Osborn, the Ohaozara LGA chairman nominated by Nwifuru, not to sign any document not approved by the governor or the state Assembly.	DAVE UMAHI; EBONYI STATE; PDP; GOVERNOR NWIFURU	ARISE
ARISE	28TH SEPTEMBER 2026	2027 Election: IGP Disu Says Police Ready, Points To Ekiti, Osun Polls As Test Cases	Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Disu said the police are ready to secure the 2027 elections, pointing to the peaceful Ekiti and Osun governorship polls, with no death recorded in Osun despite expectations of violence, as evidence. He spoke at an old boys' association reception in Lagos and said police commanders had recently attended a conference on election preparedness.	NIGERIA POLICE FORCE; IGP DISU; 2027 ELECTIONS; ELECTION SECURITY	ARISE
DAILY TRUST	28TH SEPTEMBER 2026	State police bill faces legal battle	A civil society group and three others sued the House of Representatives and its Speaker at the Federal High Court in Abuja, seeking a declaration that the July 23 passage of the State Police constitutional amendment bill was unconstitutional because it was passed by voice vote without clause-by-clause consideration or a counted two-thirds majority. The House says it passed the bill with 311 votes, and its deputy spokesman Philip Agbese said the House was unaware of the suit and that courts cannot stop the National Assembly from performing its functions.	STATE POLICE; CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT; HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; LITIGATION	DAILY TRUST
DAILY TRUST	28TH SEPTEMBER 2026	Pantami, Garry, Mailantarkarki in fresh round of battle for Gombe PDP ticket	The Gombe PDP governorship primary rerun ordered by the Federal High Court is set for Tuesday, with Isa Pantami, Khamisu Mailantarki and Usman Garry cleared to contest. Garry insists Pantami should be barred because he joined the PDP on May 19, after the aspirants list was submitted to INEC on May 10, while observers say Pantami retains the backing of the state party machinery led by Senator Ibrahim Dankwambo.	GOMBE STATE; PDP; ISA PANTAMI; GOVERNORSHIP PRIMARY	DAILY TRUST
PUNCH	28TH SEPTEMBER 2026	2027: PDP members decamp to APC in Kwara	About 1,500 PDP members in Alapa/Onire/Odegiwa Ward of Asa LGA, Kwara State, defected to the APC, citing mistreatment of members, imposition of candidates and poor reward for loyalty in the Saraki-led PDP. They were received by Lower Niger River Basin Development Authority chairman Abdullateef Alakawa and a state lawmaker, who urged them to back Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq in the Kwara Central Senate contest.	KWARA STATE; PDP; APC; DEFECTION	PUNCH
CHANNELS TV	28TH SEPTEMBER 2026	Oil Prices Spike After Trump Rejects Iran Truce Offer	Oil prices spiked, with Brent back above $106 a barrel, after Donald Trump rejected Iran's seven-day proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, though he told Axios he expects negotiations to resume. Iran is holding to its conditions of frozen-asset release, lifting of oil sanctions and an end to the US naval blockade, while world bond yields topped four per cent for the first time since 2007 and markets priced a likely Fed hike in October.	IRAN; STRAIT OF HORMUZ; OIL PRICES; DONALD TRUMP	CHANNELS TV
CHANNELS TV	28TH SEPTEMBER 2026	'Iran Has No Plans To Negotiate With US'	Iranian state media reported that Iran's delegation at the UN has no plans for negotiations with the United States, after Donald Trump told Axios he expected talks to resume soon following his rejection of Tehran's proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within seven days.	IRAN; UNITED STATES; DIPLOMACY; STRAIT OF HORMUZ	CHANNELS TV
DAILY TRUST	28TH SEPTEMBER 2026	More Nigerians evacuated as gunmen kill 27 in South Africa	Gunmen killed at least 27 people in two mass shootings in South Africa, 17 at a bar in Wedela near Johannesburg and 10 at a barbecue venue outside Cape Town, prompting President Ramaphosa to vow to bring down violence. Nigeria's Foreign Ministry separately said 105 more distressed Nigerians arrived in Lagos from South Africa, the 13th evacuation since June 10, bringing the total repatriated to 1,821, with tickets partly funded by an RCCG donation.	SOUTH AFRICA; MASS SHOOTINGS; NIGERIANS ABROAD; EVACUATION	DAILY TRUST
CHANNELS TV	27TH SEPTEMBER 2026	'Tinubu Has Made Life Painfully Expensive,' Atiku Calls For Minimum Wage Increase	ADC presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar backed organised labour's demand for a substantial minimum wage increase, arguing that the N70,000 wage buys about 50 litres of petrol at N1,400 per litre compared with about 118 litres for the old N30,000 wage in April 2023. He said he would begin raising the wage floor on his first day in office, reiterated his plan for a capped production subsidy on locally refined petroleum products, and compared Nigeria's wage floor unfavourably with those of Libya, Algeria, Equatorial Guinea and Gabon.	ATIKU ABUBAKAR; MINIMUM WAGE; FUEL SUBSIDY; ADC	CHANNELS TV
CHANNELS TV	27TH SEPTEMBER 2026	APC Sweeps Yobe L.G Chairmanship Election	The APC won all 17 chairmanship seats and 176 of the 178 councillorship seats contested in Saturday's Yobe State local government elections, according to the Yobe State Independent Electoral Commission. The ADP and APP won councillor seats in Fune and Karasuwa LGAs, ten parties took part, and the state IPAC chairman expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the election.	YOBE STATE; LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS; APC; YOBE SIEC	CHANNELS TV
CHANNELS TV	27TH SEPTEMBER 2026	2027: Opposition Parties 'Just Participants' In Election, Says APC Chairman	APC National Chairman Nentawe Yilwatda, ending a three-day NWC retreat in Maiduguri, described opposition parties as just participants in the 2027 elections and said the party passed a vote of confidence in President Tinubu, Vice President Shettima and its candidates. He said only about 100 court cases arose from the 6,000 to 7,000 people who took part in the party's primaries, that the APC was the first to constitute a campaign council, and that the NDC's council was later described as a support group while the ADC has yet to constitute its own.	APC; NENTAWE YILWATDA; 2027 ELECTIONS; APC RETREAT	CHANNELS TV
THISDAY	27TH SEPTEMBER 2026	APC, Rainbow Coalition Battle Intensifies in Kwara, Ogun, Benue, Kebbi, Others	The contest between APC governors and FCT Minister Nyesom Wike's Rainbow Coalition has intensified across states including Kwara, Ogun, Kebbi, Imo and Ebonyi, as Wike loyalists work to frustrate governors' re-election bids or their chosen successors, with Ogun's Ladi Adebutu (PDP) facing APC's Solomon Adeola and Kebbi's Adamu Aliero working against Governor Nasir Idris. Works Minister Dave Umahi said there is no Rainbow Coalition in Ebonyi, while APC leaders after their Maiduguri retreat said they won four of five recent by-elections, losing only to the APM.	RAINBOW COALITION; NYESOM WIKE; APC GOVERNORS; 2027 ELECTIONS	THISDAY
PREMIUM TIMES	26TH SEPTEMBER 2026	Five killed at Plateau mining site as soldiers rescue district head	Gunmen killed at least five miners and injured two others at a mining site in Marit village, Barkin Ladi LGA of Plateau State, on Saturday, according to the Berom Youth Moulders-Association, days after a dusk-to-dawn curfew was imposed on three LGAs. Separately, soldiers rescued the Fursum district head in Jos East LGA after youths attacked his residence and burned his vehicle following the killing of a resident at an illegal mining site, and security operatives with local hunters repelled an attack on Latok in Qua'an-Pan LGA.	PLATEAU STATE; BARKIN LADI; MINING SITE ATTACK; SECURITY	PREMIUM TIMES
VANGUARD	26TH SEPTEMBER 2026	2027: I'll lead Tinubu's campaign team in FCT, Rivers — Wike	FCT Minister Nyesom Wike said he would soon inaugurate and personally lead the campaign team for President Tinubu's re-election in the FCT and Rivers State, saying supporters of the President from different platforms were ready to begin an aggressive campaign. Speaking while inspecting the Kuje-Gwagwalada road dualisation, he said nobody would be able to claim rigging in the FCT because the rigging is the projects being delivered, and promised funding to complete the road by December.	NYESOM WIKE; TINUBU CAMPAIGN; FCT; RIVERS STATE	VANGUARD
GUARDIAN	26TH SEPTEMBER 2026	Delta Deputy Director's Death: Iyovwaye Demands Transparent Probe	NDC Delta governorship candidate Chris Iyovwaye demanded an independent investigation into the death of Unity Ekpevbughe Adeda, a deputy director who died at Asaba Specialist Hospital after an incident at the Delta State Secretariat. Police confirmed an investigation, one suspect has been arrested and two aides of the Commissioner for Secondary Education are being sought, while the commissioner denies ordering or joining any assault and workers under the NLC shut the secretariat in protest.	DELTA STATE; UNITY ADEDA; POLICE INVESTIGATION; NDC	GUARDIAN
GUARDIAN	26TH SEPTEMBER 2026	Obi Takes Production Agenda to Delta, Says Nigeria Must Break Poverty Cycle	NDC presidential candidate Peter Obi, at the launch of the party's Delta State campaign office in Asaba on Thursday, said Nigeria must move from consumption to production to create jobs and reduce poverty, combining unity with better security and increased output. He appeared with governorship candidate Chris Iyovwaye and other party leaders, and told supporters that a new Nigeria is possible.	PETER OBI; NDC; DELTA STATE; PRODUCTION ECONOMY	GUARDIAN
GUARDIAN	26TH SEPTEMBER 2026	Supreme Court Restores direct primaries, tightens party membership rules ahead of 2027 polls	A seven-member Supreme Court panel led by Justice Adamu Jauro allowed INEC's appeal, set aside the Court of Appeal's July 16 judgment and held that Sections 77(5), 77(6), 77(7) and 84(2) of the Electoral Act 2026 are consistent with the Constitution, awarding N2 million costs against the Zenith Labour Party. The provisions restrict primaries to members on the register submitted to INEC 21 days earlier and require direct primaries or consensus, though lawyers cautioned that the ruling does not automatically disqualify any individual candidate.	SUPREME COURT; ELECTORAL ACT 2026; DIRECT PRIMARIES; INEC	GUARDIAN
VANGUARD	26TH SEPTEMBER 2026	Iran proposes Hormuz plan, Trump reportedly refuses	Iran's foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran had conveyed through Qatar a seven-day plan to restore normal maritime passage through the Strait of Hormuz if conditions are met, reportedly including a week-long halt to hostilities, release of at least $12 billion in frozen assets, lifting of oil sanctions and an end to the US naval blockade. The Wall Street Journal reported within hours that Trump had rejected the proposal, while the US-Iran conflict remains stalemated after nearly seven months and a June memorandum of understanding collapsed.	IRAN; STRAIT OF HORMUZ; DONALD TRUMP; UNGA	VANGUARD
GUARDIAN	25TH SEPTEMBER 2026	PDP stalwart, Showunmi, tackles Makinde, Hashim over proposed unity government	PDP chieftain Segun Showunmi criticised the proposed Government of National Unity floated by Oyo Governor Seyi Makinde and Accord presidential candidate Gbenga Hashim for after the 2027 election, calling it part of pre-election political realignments and questioning why an incumbent seeking re-election should concede advantage to rivals. Showunmi, who backs President Tinubu's re-election, argued the presidency contest must respect Nigeria's zonal balance among the six geopolitical zones.	PDP; SEYI MAKINDE; UNITY GOVERNMENT; 2027 ELECTIONS	GUARDIAN
GUARDIAN	25TH SEPTEMBER 2026	APC, Okonkwo bicker over Atiku's candidacy amid calls for MambillaGate probe	APC spokesman Felix Morka questioned Atiku Abubakar's fitness for the presidency, citing the Mambilla Hydroelectric project dispute, the Siemens scandal and a 2010 US Senate probe into suspicious transactions involving Atiku and his ex-wife, while Atiku's spokesman Kenneth Okonkwo rejected the claims, noting the ICC arbitration tribunal made no finding of corruption against Atiku. Separately, the Independent Media and Policy Initiative urged the government to probe Atiku before the Code of Conduct Tribunal over a $500,000 payment at the centre of the Mambilla arbitration dispute.	APC; ATIKU ABUBAKAR; MAMBILLA PROJECT; ANTI-CORRUPTION	GUARDIAN
THISDAY	25TH SEPTEMBER 2026	PDP Condemns Reported Attempt to Relocate Ideato Federal Constituency Collation Centre	The PDP in Ideato North, Imo State, condemned a reported plan to relocate the Ideato North/South Federal Constituency collation centre from Urualla to Dikenafai, calling any security justification for the move unverified and demanding INEC publicly explain the basis for the change. The party warned the relocation, already the subject of a Federal High Court case in Abuja, risked creating suspicion between the two communities and undermining confidence in the electoral process.	IMO STATE; PDP; INEC; ELECTION COLLATION	THISDAY
DAILY TRUST	25TH SEPTEMBER 2026	Onaiyekan, Osigwe fault electoral system	Cardinal John Onaiyekan and former NBA president Afam Osigwe, at the All Nigeria Editors Conference in Enugu, called for an overhaul of Nigeria's electoral system, proposing independent appointment of INEC commissioners, a 50 percent threshold for presidential wins, special election tribunals with strict timelines, and independent candidacy at the local government level. Osigwe said Nigeria has one of the world's highest rates of electoral litigation, partly due to difficulties proving malpractice and disputes over BVAS evidence, while Vice President Shettima and Minister Mohammed Idris separately warned editors about AI-driven disinformation ahead of 2027.	JOHN ONAIYEKAN; ELECTORAL REFORM; INEC; NIGERIAN BAR ASSOCIATION	DAILY TRUST
DAILY TRUST	25TH SEPTEMBER 2026	ADC accuses Kano govt of blocking opposition billboards	ADC chieftain Salihu Tanko Yakasai accused Kano Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf's administration of blocking the opposition party from mounting campaign billboards, with an aide to an ADC governorship candidate alleging billboards were being forcibly removed and a candidate saying a signage company cancelled his contract after pressure from the state signage agency. The Kano State Signage Agency's director-general denied discrimination, saying billboard rules apply uniformly to all parties that pay fees and secure approval. Also, This Day reports that ADC has warned that opposition members were nearing the limits of their restraint over alleged attacks and intimidation, saying continued failure by security agencies to protect them could push the situation towards self-help and imperil the 2027 general election. The party said it was not asking for special treatment, but demanding that existing laws be enforced so that its members and other Nigerians could organise, campaign and participate in politics without fear of violence. It also demanded that the police publicly account for investigations into attacks allegedly carried out against opposition members in several states. Speaking at a press conference in Abuja, ADC spokesman, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, said the party had documented incidents involving attacks on political meetings, destruction of party property, assaults and threats against citizens because of their political affiliations between July 2025 and September 2026. “We are getting close. We cannot ask our people to continue to turn the other cheek when they are being slapped all the time. We are not pastors or imams, or we are not running a religious organisation. We are running a political party,” Abdullahi said. He said the incidents documented by the party occurred in states like Kaduna, Kebbi, Ekiti, Cross River, Rivers, Edo, Osun, Kogi and Enugu, although responsibility had not been conclusively established in every case.	KANO STATE; ADC; CAMPAIGN BILLBOARDS; ABBA KABIR YUSUF	DAILY TRUST THISDAY
VANGUARD	25TH SEPTEMBER 2026	Nigeria demands two permanent UN seats, veto powers for Africa	Vice President Kashim Shettima, delivering Nigeria's national statement at the 81st UNGA, demanded at least two permanent UN Security Council seats for Africa with veto powers, plus five non-permanent seats, in line with the Ezulwini Consensus and Sirte Declaration. He said the Council's 1945-era structure no longer reflects contemporary realities, cited Nigeria's peacekeeping record in Liberia, Sierra Leone, Darfur, Mali and The Gambia, and urged the world to return to diplomacy and dialogue as conflicts persist in Sudan and elsewhere.	UNGA; UN SECURITY COUNCIL; VICE PRESIDENT SHETTIMA; AFRICAN UNION	VANGUARD
PREMIUM TIMES	25TH SEPTEMBER 2026	Delegates walk out as Netanyahu addresses UNGA	Dozens of delegates walked out of the UN General Assembly hall as Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu began his address, prompting him to call them moral cowards and dismiss genocide accusations over Gaza as the biggest lie of the century while defending Israel's military campaigns. Netanyahu also branded Turkish President Erdogan a tyrant over his support for Hamas and clashed with New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who denied Netanyahu's claim that Jews no longer feel safe in the city.	BENJAMIN NETANYAHU; UNGA; ISRAEL; GAZA	PREMIUM TIMES
VANGUARD	24TH SEPTEMBER 2026	Full list: Atiku appoints Ibrahim-Imam, El-Rufai, Dino Melaye, others to ADC Campaign Council	ADC presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar named Kashim Ibrahim-Imam as chairman and Nasir El-Rufai as deputy chairman of his 2027 Presidential Campaign Council, with Austin Akobundu as Director-General, Dele Momodu heading media, Dino Melaye leading mobilisation, and a policy team chaired by Mohammed Hayatu-Deen including Kingsley Moghalu. Director of Strategic Communication Phrank Shaibu said the lean, six-deputy-director-general structure would focus on cost of living, unemployment, insecurity and declining purchasing power.	ATIKU ABUBAKAR; ADC; PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN COUNCIL; NASIR EL-RUFAI	VANGUARD
VANGUARD	24TH SEPTEMBER 2026	2027: 'It's not the turn of Igbos yet' — Umahi	Works Minister Dave Umahi said it is not yet the Igbo's turn to produce Nigeria's president, insisting the South-East will get its chance later but that the current turn belongs to President Tinubu. Umahi also rejected comparisons unfavourable to him against Peter Obi, questioning what exactly makes Obi a better match, and defended Tinubu-administration officials against critics.	DAVE UMAHI; SOUTH-EAST; PETER OBI; PRESIDENT TINUBU	VANGUARD
CHANNELS TV	24TH SEPTEMBER 2026	Court Nullifies Pantami's PDP Gov Ticket, Orders Fresh Primary In Gombe	A Federal High Court in Gombe nullified former Communications Minister Isa Pantami's emergence as the PDP's 2027 governorship candidate, ruling the May 2026 primary that produced him by voice affirmation breached the party's procedures and excluded screened aspirants, and ordered a fresh primary within 30 days. The court declined to strip Pantami of PDP membership as the plaintiffs had sought, though they alleged he remained an APC member; Pantami had earlier withdrawn from the APC primary before defecting to the PDP.	GOMBE STATE; PDP; ISA PANTAMI; ELECTION TRIBUNAL	CHANNELS TV
ARISE	24TH SEPTEMBER 2026	Obi: Anyone Who Rigs Election Under My Presidency Will Go To Jail, Even For One Vote	NDC presidential candidate Peter Obi vowed that anyone rigging elections under his presidency would be jailed even for one vote, pledged not to harass opposition parties and to involve them in state decisions, and said he would stay resident in Nigeria rather than travel extensively. Obi also disapproved of the OK Movement's unilateral campaign council, again rejected Anambra's $123.7 million debt claim in detail, saying he left over $150 million in state savings and no unpaid salaries or pensions, said he has no rift with Governor Soludo, and criticised President Tinubu's prolonged absence from the country.	PETER OBI; NDC; 2027 ELECTIONS; ANAMBRA DEBT	ARISE
ARISE	24TH SEPTEMBER 2026	2027 Polls: Ex-Rivers ADC Governorship Candidate Ibraye Resigns Over Leadership Crisis	Former Rivers ADC governorship candidate Tonte Ibraye resigned from the party, citing an internal leadership crisis around the disputed David Mark-led faction and warning that 2027 candidatures emerging from contested processes stood on quicksand. Ibraye also faulted the opposition for focusing on removing President Tinubu without offering a clear alternative governing strategy, and said he would consult supporters across Rivers State's 23 LGAs on his next political move.	RIVERS STATE; ADC; PARTY LEADERSHIP CRISIS; DAVID MARK	ARISE
DAILY TRUST	24TH SEPTEMBER 2026	Campaign Council: Moghalu rejects Atiku's appointment	Kingsley Moghalu, former CBN deputy governor, publicly rejected his listed membership of Atiku Abubakar's ADC presidential campaign policy team, saying he was never consulted or gave consent and has been non-partisan since quitting Nigerian party politics in 2022. Moghalu said his current roles are with the Institute for Global Economic Transformation and Sogato Strategies, and that his commitment to Nigeria does not require partisan alignment.	KINGSLEY MOGHALU; ADC; ATIKU ABUBAKAR; CAMPAIGN COUNCIL	DAILY TRUST
PUNCH	24TH SEPTEMBER 2026	2027: ADC receives ex-Ondo PDP gov candidate as Atiku tackles APC	ADC presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar welcomed former Ondo PDP governorship candidate Eyitayo Jegede and his supporters into the party in Akure, urging Nigerians to vote out the APC over the economy and citing the 2026 Osun governorship election as a model for turnout and vote protection to replicate in 2027. Atiku reaffirmed ADC's commitment to restoring fuel subsidy and improving security, while Jegede said hardship and unemployment drove his defection.	ATIKU ABUBAKAR; ADC; ONDO STATE; DEFECTION	PUNCH
PUNCH	24TH SEPTEMBER 2026	Ex-Labour Party South-West coordinator dumps party, defects to APC	Sola Ebiseni, a former Labour Party South-West coordinator and Afenifere Secretary-General, defected to the APC and declared support for President Tinubu's re-election during a visit to Ondo Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, who said Ebiseni's experience and Afenifere ties would strengthen the Tinubu campaign. Ebiseni said his decision followed months of consultations across Nigeria's six geopolitical zones and that supporting findings would be published soon.	LABOUR PARTY; APC; SOLA EBISENI; ONDO STATE	PUNCH
PREMIUM TIMES	24TH SEPTEMBER 2026	Terrorism, kidnapping choke trade lifeline linking Nigeria, Chad, Cameroon	Escalating Boko Haram and ISWAP attacks, kidnapping-for-ransom networks and poor road conditions along the Maroua-Kousseri-N'Djamena corridor are crippling trade linking Nigeria, Cameroon and Chad, with an August 2025 abduction of 11 bus passengers illustrating the risks facing a route vital to Chad's supply lines and worth over $303 million in Cameroon-side cross-border trade. The piece, by ISS researchers, calls for joint Cameroon-Nigeria military operations, reduced roadside checkpoints and completion of a bypass road to curb the violence disrupting the Lake Chad Basin trade corridor.	BOKO HARAM; CAMEROON; CHAD; CROSS-BORDER TRADE; TERRORISM	PREMIUM TIMES
GUARDIAN	24TH SEPTEMBER 2026	2027: INEC, IGP raise security, logistics concerns, vow to punish culprits	At the CARSPO 2026 police retreat in Owerri, INEC Chairman Joash Amupitan warned that funding constraints could undermine election logistics and security ahead of the 2027 polls, while IGP Olatunji Disu warned officers against taking sides, colluding with political actors, or harassing voters, saying culprits would be investigated and punished. Disu said police would coordinate closely with INEC and other agencies through joint exercises and pre-agreed lines of command, with the presidential and National Assembly elections set for January 16, 2027 and governorship polls for February 6, 2027.	2027 ELECTIONS; INEC; NIGERIA POLICE FORCE; CARSPO	GUARDIAN
GUARDIAN	24TH SEPTEMBER 2026	Benue govt slams Kwankwaso as PDP group queries Alia's support for Tinubu	The Benue State Government criticised NDC vice presidential candidate Rabiu Kwankwaso's comments about Governor Hyacinth Alia as an unwarranted insult tied to a controversy over a blocked visit by Peter Obi, urging Kwankwaso to focus on Kano's own political challenges. Separately, the Benue PDP New Generation Movement questioned the sincerity of Alia's support for President Tinubu, criticising a planned protest by his administration against FCT Minister Nyesom Wike as divisive and unconstitutional.	BENUE STATE; NDC; PDP; GOVERNOR ALIA	GUARDIAN
GUARDIAN	24TH SEPTEMBER 2026	State Police: Oyo Assembly receives amendment bill for consideration	The proposed constitutional amendment to establish State Police Services has been transmitted to the Oyo State House of Assembly for legislative consideration, following passage by the Senate and House of Representatives in June and July. Separately, the Nasarawa State Assembly said it would begin considering the bill when lawmakers resume plenary on September 28, having received it from the National Assembly on September 18.	OYO STATE; NASARAWA STATE; STATE POLICE; CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT	GUARDIAN
THISDAY	24TH SEPTEMBER 2026	At UNGA 81, Nigeria Teams Up with Italy for Massive $5bn Global Education Funding	Nigeria and Italy co-hosted a UNGA sideline event to advance the Global Partnership for Education's campaign to mobilise $5 billion for education worldwide, with Vice President Kashim Shettima saying Nigeria was directing EFCC-recovered funds and dormant accounts, once legally cleared, into the Nigerian Education Loan Fund. Shettima cited a Nigeria-GPE-World Bank programme, HOPE-EDU, expected to reach about 29 million children and 500,000 teachers, while Finance Minister Taiwo Oyedele separately urged cheaper, simpler climate financing access for Africa at a related UNGA session.	UNGA; EDUCATION FINANCING; VICE PRESIDENT SHETTIMA; ITALY	THISDAY
ARISE	24TH SEPTEMBER 2026	Umahi Orders Tinubu's Pictures On First Niger Bridge, Urges South-East Not To 'Waste' Votes on Peter Obi	Works Minister Dave Umahi ordered illegal adverts removed from the rehabilitated First Niger Bridge and replaced with President Tinubu's pictures, saying the bridge, expected to reopen next week, would honour Tinubu's infrastructure record. Umahi also urged the South-East not to waste its 2027 votes on Peter Obi, arguing Tinubu has brought projects to the region despite weak past support there.	DAVE UMAHI; FIRST NIGER BRIDGE; SOUTH-EAST; 2027 ELECTIONS	ARISE
DAILY TRUST	24TH SEPTEMBER 2026	Kwara PDP names Gambari campaign DG in Kwara	The Kwara PDP appointed Prince Omar Bolaji Gambari, son of ex-Chief of Staff Ibrahim Gambari and a former gubernatorial primary contestant, as Director-General of its 2027 campaign organisation to coordinate support for governorship candidate Suleiman Bolakale Kawu. The party said Gambari remained active after losing the primary and that his experience in law, finance and real estate would strengthen the campaign.	KWARA STATE; PDP; 2027 ELECTIONS; GUBERNATORIAL CAMPAIGN	DAILY TRUST
DAILY TRUST	24TH SEPTEMBER 2026	NDC: One ticket, two visions	NDC presidential candidate Peter Obi and running mate Rabiu Kwankwaso hold opposing views on fuel subsidy and state police: Obi backs subsidy removal, though he says it should have been phased, and supports state police, while Kwankwaso opposes state police and says an NDC government would restore subsidy in its own way through expanded domestic refining. Separately, the NDC leadership publicly disowned a 59-member Presidential Campaign Council announced by the grassroots Obi-Kwankwaso (OK) Movement, with National Leader Seriake Dickson calling the move nonsensical and the Movement's DG John Ughulu insisting it remains an independent organisation that will not be absorbed into the party.	NDC; PETER OBI; RABIU KWANKWASO; OK MOVEMENT	DAILY TRUST
DAILY TRUST	24TH SEPTEMBER 2026	UNGA: Nigeria, EU set to conclude re-admission agreement	Nigeria and the EU renewed efforts to conclude the long-pending EU-Nigeria Re-Admission Agreement, first initiated in 2016, during UNGA sideline talks between Foreign Minister Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu and EU Migration Commissioner Magnus Brunner. The EU proposed a broader Migration and Security Cooperation Contract covering talent partnerships, legal migration pathways, returnee reintegration and Frontex/Europol cooperation, with Brunner planning a follow-up visit to Abuja in November.	NIGERIA; EUROPEAN UNION; MIGRATION; UNGA	DAILY TRUST
PREMIUM TIMES	24TH SEPTEMBER 2026	Gambia asks GTB, Access Bank, others to dismiss non-Gambian employees	The Central Bank of The Gambia has ordered all commercial banks operating in the country, including Nigerian subsidiaries such as GTB, Access, Zenith, First Bank and Eco, to phase out non-Gambian employees not on approved expatriate quotas by year-end and replace them with qualified Gambians. The regulator said an industry study found many banks employing foreigners in violation of Gambia's Labour Act 2023 and its expatriate-staff guidelines.	THE GAMBIA; NIGERIAN BANKS; CENTRAL BANK OF THE GAMBIA; LABOUR	PREMIUM TIMES
VANGUARD	24TH SEPTEMBER 2026	US judge orders White House reinstate access to CNN, MS NOW, Politico	A US federal judge ordered the Trump administration to immediately reinstate White House press access for CNN, MS NOW and Politico, ruling that the revocation of their press passes likely violated the outlets' constitutional due process rights. The ruling follows the White House's ban on the three outlets and their subsequent lawsuit challenging it as unconstitutional.	UNITED STATES; PRESS FREEDOM; DONALD TRUMP; COURT RULING	VANGUARD
ARISE	24TH SEPTEMBER 2026	Zelenskyy Urges 47 Countries To Stop Russia Recruiting Their Citizens Through Deception	Addressing the UN General Assembly, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia has used citizens from 47 countries, including Ghana, Kenya, India, Sudan and South Africa, in its war, urging their governments to prevent further recruitment and protect citizens deceived into fighting. He called on the countries to limit Russia's financing and room to manoeuvre and to help end the war rather than let more citizens be drawn into it.	VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY; UKRAINE; RUSSIA; UNGA	ARISE
PREMIUM TIMES	23RD SEPTEMBER 2026	UNGA: North-west governors seek funding for security, development plans	Governors of Nigeria's seven North-west states presented their Northwest Peace, Security and Development Framework 2026-2030 to development institutions and investors in New York, seeking international financing and private investment to tackle insecurity, unemployment and displacement. Katsina Governor Dikko Radda, who chairs the North-west Governors' Forum, said security gains must be matched by economic opportunity, as the region continues to record fresh displacement, including 3,509 people from 524 households after August attacks in Katsina.	NORTH-WEST GOVERNORS; UNGA; SECURITY FUNDING; KATSINA STATE	PREMIUM TIMES
PREMIUM TIMES	23RD SEPTEMBER 2026	Ekiti 2026: SDP counsel boycotts tribunal as Court of Appeal rejects request to relocate venue	SDP counsel Ebenezer Akinbuli boycotted the resumed Ekiti governorship election petition tribunal in Ado-Ekiti, citing security concerns after an earlier alleged assault, despite the Court of Appeal President declining to relocate the hearing venue. APC counsel Kabir Akingbolu argued the petition was without merit given Governor Biodun Oyebanji's wide margin of victory, and the tribunal adjourned to September 24 to resolve confusion over the relocation request.	EKITI STATE; SDP; ELECTION TRIBUNAL; APC	PREMIUM TIMES
PREMIUM TIMES	23RD SEPTEMBER 2026	Rainbow Coalition: Aggrieved governors allegedly explore alliance with Atiku to counter Wike	APC chieftain Yusuf Musa alleged that APC governors aggrieved by Nyesom Wike's Rainbow Coalition are exploring a political alliance with ADC candidate Atiku Abubakar, while insisting the governors are not planning to leave the APC. Musa said the governors fear Wike's claims that President Tinubu ceded nine states to the coalition, and predicted Wike-aligned politicians who win in 2027 could later defect back to the APC as has happened in past election cycles.	RAINBOW COALITION; APC GOVERNORS; ATIKU ABUBAKAR; NYESOM WIKE	PREMIUM TIMES
THE NATION	23RD SEPTEMBER 2026	INEC to hold stakeholders meeting on 2027 elections Oct 6	INEC announced it will hold a World Press Conference and National Stakeholders Meeting on October 6, 2026, at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre in Abuja, marking the 100-day countdown to the presidential and National Assembly elections. The invitation-only event, to be addressed by INEC Chairman Joash Amupitan, will bring together political parties, security agencies, civil society groups, religious leaders, development partners and the diplomatic community, though it falls outside the Commission's released election timetable.	INEC; 2027 ELECTIONS; STAKEHOLDERS MEETING	THE NATION
THE NATION	23RD SEPTEMBER 2026	Battle for top job: Opposition's single-candidate plan in final crash	A Nation analysis argues the opposition's last-minute push for a unified 2027 presidential candidate, to be revisited at a Pat Utomi-led Ibadan retreat, is effectively dead because Electoral Act 2026 deadlines for mergers and candidate substitutions have passed, meaning any deal could only be an informal arrangement vulnerable to ballot leakage since withdrawn candidates' names stay printed and their votes are not transferable. It traces the fragmentation to the PDP's paralysis under Nyesom Wike's influence, Atiku Abubakar's refusal to step aside for Peter Obi, and Rabiu Kwankwaso's public call for Atiku to retire, concluding that a splintered opposition facing an APC controlling 31 states could let Tinubu win with a plurality of roughly 35 to 40 per cent.	2027 ELECTIONS; OPPOSITION COALITION; ELECTORAL ACT 2026; APC	THE NATION
THE NATION	23RD SEPTEMBER 2026	Imo East APC stakeholders adopt Tinubu, other candidates, endorse Mbata for Senate	APC leaders and stakeholders in the Owerri Federal Constituency, at a meeting convened by senatorial candidate Alex Mbata, adopted President Tinubu and all APC candidates for 2027 and endorsed Mbata for the Owerri Zone Senate seat. Party leaders praised Mbata's philanthropy and urged members to mobilise voters at polling units, while officials said his emergence as senator would not block another Owerri Federal Constituency figure from later contesting the 2028 governorship.	IMO STATE; APC; SENATE; ALEX MBATA	THE NATION
THE NATION	23RD SEPTEMBER 2026	APM chieftain Olopoeyan warns of imminent collapse of party structure in Oyo	APM leader Adebisi Olopoenia warned, in a viral video address to supporters in Ibadan, that the party's structure in Oyo State is on the verge of collapse, using an analogy of a swaying, unstable house to caution against forced political alliances, amid a crisis over candidates for the state's forthcoming local government elections. The rift involves foundation APM members opposing alleged imposition by figures aligned with Governor Seyi Makinde's PDP faction, which allied with the APM earlier in the year.	OYO STATE; APM; PARTY STRUCTURE; LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS	THE NATION
VANGUARD	23RD SEPTEMBER 2026	Lagos APC expels Obasa's allies, Egunjobi, Yusuf over 'betrayal'	The Lagos APC expelled former Agege council chairman Ganiyu Egunjobi and Azeez Yusuf, both allies of Speaker Mudashiru Obasa, for contesting on the APM platform in Agege after losing the APC's 2026 Assembly primaries, calling it anti-party conduct under Article 9(5)(II) of the party constitution. State Chairman Cornelius Ojelabi dismissed their resignations as a belated attempt to pre-empt discipline and said they no longer have authority to represent the Lagos APC.	LAGOS STATE; APC; ANTI-PARTY DISCIPLINE; APM	VANGUARD
PUNCH	23RD SEPTEMBER 2026	Wike rejects election rigging allegations, says G5 strategy outsmarted Atiku	FCT Minister Nyesom Wike dismissed claims that he rigged the 2023 presidential election in Rivers State for President Tinubu, saying the PDP G5's strategy was to direct South-South votes toward Peter Obi to deny Atiku Abubakar, then seen as the bigger threat, rather than illegal manipulation. Wike argued no result sheets were tendered at the tribunal to prove Obi won Rivers and said one cannot rig an election without genuine popularity, since millions of votes across 176,000 polling units could not be altered by one person.	NYESOM WIKE; G5; 2023 ELECTION; PETER OBI	PUNCH
VANGUARD	23RD SEPTEMBER 2026	'You won't return to Senate' - Wike again tells Ireti Kingibe	FCT Minister Nyesom Wike told FCT Senator Ireti Kingibe she would not return to the National Assembly in 2027, calling her illiterate after she accused him of taking FCT loans without National Assembly approval, which he denied. Wike said his ongoing project inspections across the FCT amounted to campaigning ahead of 2027 and reiterated backing for Philip Aduda as the FCT's preferred Senate candidate.	NYESOM WIKE; IRETI KINGIBE; FCT; SENATE	VANGUARD
CHANNELS TV	23RD SEPTEMBER 2026	Plateau Attacks: Police Officer, Five Others Killed Despite Curfew	Five people, including a Chief Superintendent of Police, were killed in separate attacks in Barkin Ladi and Mangu LGAs of Plateau State despite a dusk-to-dawn curfew, with gunmen striking Operation Rainbow personnel along Gagshi Road and killing three civilians at Rakok. In Mangu, the Mwaghavul Youth Movement reported three community watchmen killed at Kyikyau during curfew hours, while the Berom Youth Moulders-Association reported a separate killing in Barkin Ladi, prompting renewed community criticism of the curfew's effectiveness.	PLATEAU STATE; CURFEW; OPERATION RAINBOW; SECURITY	CHANNELS TV
ARISE	23RD SEPTEMBER 2026	Pat Utomi: Opposition Cooperation Is More Realistic Than Forcing Aspirants To Step Down	Professor Pat Utomi argued that opposition parties can defeat the APC through co-opetition, competing electorally while cooperating on vote protection, resource-sharing and policy, rather than forcing all presidential aspirants to rally behind one candidate, which he called a false narrative. He proposed shared election-monitoring tools such as body cameras and livestreaming of polling units, and urged opposition aspirants to set aside personal ambition for the sake of Nigeria's future.	PAT UTOMI; OPPOSITION COOPERATION; 2027 ELECTIONS; ELECTION MONITORING	ARISE
CHANNELS TV	22ND SEPTEMBER 2026	Makinde Unveils 'Reset Nigeria' Agenda, Vows Constitutional Leadership and Sweeping Reforms	APM presidential candidate and Oyo Governor Seyi Makinde unveiled his Reset Nigeria Agenda at a North-west town hall in Katsina, pledging economic reform, an overhaul of education, devolution of mining oversight to states, and strict compliance with Section 145 of the Constitution on transmitting power during travel. Makinde also disputed Nyesom Wike's claim that the Federal Government funded Ibadan Airport's upgrade, insisting Oyo State financed it entirely, and urged Nigerians to obtain their PVCs ahead of 2027.	SEYI MAKINDE; APM; 2027 ELECTIONS; KATSINA STATE	CHANNELS TV
PREMIUM TIMES	23RD SEPTEMBER 2026	PDP faction criticises Tinubu's absence at UNGA, extension of vacation abroad	A PDP faction led by Kabiru Turaki criticised President Tinubu for extending his vacation abroad and missing the UN General Assembly, calling the timing disappointing given Nigeria's insecurity and economic hardship. Spokesman Ini Ememobong argued Tinubu should have proceeded from Europe to New York for UNGA rather than extending his stay, and urged Nigerians to hold him accountable at the 2027 polls. The criticism echoes similar remarks from ADC candidate Atiku Abubakar, which the presidency has dismissed as baseless.	PRESIDENT TINUBU; PDP; UNGA; 2027 ELECTIONS	PREMIUM TIMES
PREMIUM TIMES	23RD SEPTEMBER 2026	CARSPO 2026: Police explore new tools, strategies for 2027 elections	At the CARSPO 2026 police retreat in Owerri, officials outlined plans to deploy AI, facial recognition and data analytics ahead of the 2027 elections, with IGP Olatunji Disu citing cases already solved using CCTV and facial recognition. Consultant Ross Alabo-George urged police to shift from reactive to prevention-first policing and warned that digital tools could be weaponised to spread misinformation during the polls. The Force also outlined plans for an AI-powered public platform and paperless statement-taking at select stations.	NIGERIA POLICE FORCE; ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE; 2027 ELECTIONS; CARSPO	PREMIUM TIMES
VANGUARD	23RD SEPTEMBER 2026	Delta NDC/APC Clash: Police, supporters differ over AK-47	Controversy trailed the recovery of an AK-47 during tension between APC and NDC supporters in Effurun, Delta State, after police said the rifle was found during a search to rescue a man, Collins Egbara, from a mob, while an NDC supporter disputed this, saying youths seized the weapon from Egbara as a suspected thug. Police said they had anticipated a clash ahead of a September 18 rally and deployed patrol teams under Operation Show of Force to contain the situation, and ownership of the rifle remains under investigation.	DELTA STATE; NDC; APC; POLITICAL VIOLENCE	VANGUARD
GUARDIAN	23RD SEPTEMBER 2026	ADC, Makinde, Sowore tackle Tinubu for not transmitting power to VP	Oyo Governor Seyi Makinde, the ADC, and AAC candidate Omoyele Sowore criticised President Tinubu for not formally transmitting power to Vice President Shettima despite being abroad for more than 21 days, citing Section 145 of the Constitution. The ADC called the situation dangerous and a constitutional violation, while the presidency, through Daniel Bwala, maintained Tinubu could govern from anywhere as Commander-in-Chief regardless of location.	PRESIDENT TINUBU; ADC; CONSTITUTION; VICE PRESIDENT SHETTIMA	GUARDIAN
DAILY TRUST	23RD SEPTEMBER 2026	Troops rescue 6 abducted varsity students in Zamfara	Troops of Operation Fansan Yamma rescued seven kidnap victims, including six female Federal University Dutsin-Ma students and a commercial driver, after responding to an attack on a vehicle travelling from Kaduna to Katsina along the Daye-Malumfashi road in Danmusa LGA. The army said the attackers fled when troops arrived, and all victims were rescued unhurt and handed over to their families after medical evaluation.	ZAMFARA STATE; KATSINA STATE; KIDNAPPING; NIGERIAN ARMY	DAILY TRUST
DAILY TRUST	23RD SEPTEMBER 2026	Security operatives kill 18 suspected bandits in Katsina	Joint security forces killed 18 suspected bandits and recovered rifles, ammunition and rustled livestock in an operation at Gidan Iyado, Bakori LGA, Katsina State, targeting a group allegedly planning to abduct residents for ransom. The state government identified the alleged leader as Alhaji Musa Duki, a former school headmaster turned bandit kingpin operating from Mununu Forest, and said no security operative was killed in the raid.	KATSINA STATE; BANDITRY; SECURITY OPERATION	DAILY TRUST
DAILY TRUST	23RD SEPTEMBER 2026	Assemblies begin consideration of state police bill	State Houses of Assembly across Nigeria have begun considering the State Police Bill transmitted by the National Assembly, with Osun and Zamfara actively debating, Bauchi setting up a committee, and several states including Rivers, Bayelsa, Edo and Kebbi yet to receive the document. The bill would create a dual federal-state policing structure with safeguards against abuse, and needs the concurrence of at least 24 of 36 state assemblies before returning to President Tinubu for assent.	STATE POLICE; CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT; NATIONAL ASSEMBLY	DAILY TRUST
DAILY TRUST	23RD SEPTEMBER 2026	5,000 PDP members defect to APC in Ogun	About 5,000 PDP members in Ogun State, mostly from the Ogun West Senatorial District, defected to the APC at a reception in Ilaro, received by Governor Dapo Abiodun and Senator Solomon Adeola. Former Ogun PDP chairman Sikirullahi Ogundele said the party had become an empty shell in the state and dismissed renewed questions about Adeola's indigene status as a routine political tactic.	OGUN STATE; PDP; APC; DEFECTION	DAILY TRUST
PUNCH	23RD SEPTEMBER 2026	Gunmen kill security operative, three civilians in Plateau	Gunmen ambushed Operation Rainbow security personnel along Gagshi Road between Barkin Ladi and Bokkos, killing one operative, while three civilians, including two women attending a funeral, were killed in a separate daylight attack at Rakok in Barkin Ladi LGA. A community leader described the security situation as entering a bigger dimension, and the state government has imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew on Barkin Ladi, Bokkos and Mangu LGAs since Monday.	PLATEAU STATE; OPERATION RAINBOW; SECURITY; CURFEW	PUNCH
PUNCH	23RD SEPTEMBER 2026	Protests as INEC omits physically-challenged candidate's name from list	Supporters of Dr Christian Uwalaka, an NNPP candidate living with a disability, are protesting his omission from INEC's final list of candidates for the Umuahia North/Umuahia South/Ikwuano federal constituency in Abia State despite completing the party's nomination process. The NNPP state chairman said the omission may stem from the national headquarters' upload process, while INEC's Abia election monitoring office said its role ends once state-level primaries are documented and forwarded to Abuja.	ABIA STATE; INEC; NNPP; DISABILITY INCLUSION	PUNCH
DAILY TRUST	23RD SEPTEMBER 2026	Another Nigerian killed in South Africa	The Nigerian Union in South Africa demanded an independent investigation into the death of 34-year-old Christian Nnaemeka, allegedly attacked in Johannesburg on Monday evening, questioning whether the incident was linked to an authorised security operation. The union noted this is one of several recent killings of Nigerians in South Africa, including the murder of Nigerian cleric Bishop Taiwo Michael Fakunle in Johannesburg earlier this month.	SOUTH AFRICA; NIGERIANS ABROAD; XENOPHOBIC VIOLENCE	DAILY TRUST
PREMIUM TIMES	22ND SEPTEMBER 2026	Wike names three APC governors opposed to his Rainbow Coalition	FCT Minister Nyesom Wike named Imo Governor Hope Uzodimma, Kwara's AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and Ogun's Dapo Abiodun as the APC governors opposing his Rainbow Coalition, alleging their resistance stems from fears over losing influence in the 2027 Senate Presidency and Speakership contests. Wike, a PDP national leader who works in the Tinubu administration, argued that politicians who lost APC tickets were better served joining the pro-Tinubu PDP than opposition parties like the ADC or NDC.	NYESOM WIKE; RAINBOW COALITION; APC GOVERNORS; 2027 ELECTIONS	PREMIUM TIMES
VANGUARD	22ND SEPTEMBER 2026	Why State Police Bill was transmitted quickly to state assemblies - NASS	The National Assembly clarified that only the State Police Establishment Bill, passed by both chambers in June and July, has been transmitted to the 36 state assemblies, contrary to reports suggesting all constitutional amendment bills had been forwarded. Clerk Kamoru Ogunlana said the bill was prioritised due to widespread public demand on security, and other pending alteration bills will follow only after passage in identical form by both chambers.	STATE POLICE; NATIONAL ASSEMBLY; CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT	VANGUARD
VANGUARD	22ND SEPTEMBER 2026	Babachir Lawal joins NDC three months after leaving ADC	Former SGF Babachir Lawal joined the NDC three months after resigning from the ADC over allegations that its presidential primary favoured Atiku Abubakar, declaring support for the Peter Obi-Rabiu Kwankwaso ticket. NDC National Leader Seriake Dickson said Lawal would coordinate the party's campaign activities in the North-East and oversee operations in the North-Central zone, as the NDC also works to resolve friction with an Obi-Kwankwaso support movement over an unauthorised campaign council announcement.	NDC; BABACHIR LAWAL; PETER OBI; 2027 ELECTIONS	VANGUARD
VANGUARD	22ND SEPTEMBER 2026	FG inaugurates 10-man panel on Niger NSCDC deaths	The Federal Government inaugurated a 10-member independent committee, chaired by retired DSS deputy director-general Jonathan Kure, to investigate the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners in NSCDC custody in Niger State. Interior Minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo said the Niger State NSCDC commandant and implicated officers remain suspended, warned against evidence tampering, and gave the panel two weeks to determine the cause of death and recommend accountability measures.	NIGER STATE; NSCDC; MINERS DEATHS; INVESTIGATIVE PANEL	VANGUARD
VANGUARD	22ND SEPTEMBER 2026	NDC set to inaugurate 2027 Presidential Campaign Council	The NDC said Peter Obi and running mate Rabiu Kwankwaso would nominate key officials of its 2027 Presidential Campaign Council, including a director-general and finance director, following consultations with party leadership on an organogram developed since August. The party said the council's inauguration, earlier planned for September, was delayed by Obi's travel schedule, and directed state and LGA chairmen to compile lists of polling agents within two weeks.	NDC; PETER OBI; PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN COUNCIL; 2027 ELECTIONS	VANGUARD
GUARDIAN	22ND SEPTEMBER 2026	Atiku says 67.4% reject Tinubu's fuel policy in SBM survey	Atiku Abubakar cited an SBM Intelligence survey finding that 67.4% of respondents want fuel subsidy restored, calling it evidence of a democratic mandate against Tinubu's fuel policy, which he said scored worst among the administration's policies. He proposed an alternative production subsidy for domestically refined fuel, limited by National Assembly approval and independent audits, rather than reinstating the pre-2023 subsidy regime.	ATIKU ABUBAKAR; FUEL SUBSIDY; SBM INTELLIGENCE; ECONOMIC POLICY	GUARDIAN
PUNCH	22ND SEPTEMBER 2026	Osun Assembly approves constitutional amendment for state police creation	The Osun State House of Assembly unanimously approved the proposed constitutional amendment to establish state police, following the National Assembly's request that state legislatures deliberate on the bill. Lawmakers described the move as timely for strengthening state and local security architecture, and the resolution will be forwarded to the National Assembly as part of the required 24-state concurrence process.	OSUN STATE; STATE POLICE; CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT	PUNCH
VANGUARD	22ND SEPTEMBER 2026	Trump says deciding between deal or driving Iran 'into hell'	Addressing the UN General Assembly, President Trump said he must choose between allowing a deal that lets Iran rebuild or annihilating the Islamic Republic and driving it into hell if no agreement is reached to end the Middle East war. He said he still expects a deal after the US midterm elections in November, suggesting Iran is waiting to see the outcome before negotiating further.	DONALD TRUMP; IRAN; UNGA; UNITED STATES	VANGUARD
PUNCH	22ND SEPTEMBER 2026	Trump signs security deal with Greenland, Denmark at UN	President Trump signed a security pact with Greenland and Denmark on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, under which the US will build two new military bases in Greenland in addition to its existing Pituffik base. The 10-page agreement reaffirms Danish sovereignty and Greenland's right to self-determination while barring non-NATO, non-EU countries such as China and Russia from strategic sectors on the island.	DONALD TRUMP; GREENLAND; DENMARK; UNGA	PUNCH
PREMIUM TIMES	22ND SEPTEMBER 2026	Bandits continue attacks in Sokoto, Katsina despite local peace deals, military operations	In southern Katsina and neighbouring Sokoto, renewed bandit attacks have killed, kidnapped, and displaced residents in recent weeks despite local peace deals and continued military operations. Security agencies report rescuing some abducted residents and disrupting planned attacks, though casualty and displacement figures remain difficult to verify independently. A camp in Sokoto sheltering thousands displaced in earlier years underscores how the renewed violence compounds existing, unresolved displacement even as some communities report improved security after negotiations.	BANDITRY; SOKOTO STATE; KATSINA STATE; PEACE DEALS	PREMIUM TIMES
GUARDIAN	22ND SEPTEMBER 2026	Court adjourns el-Rufai's N1b rights suit against ICPC, police, AGF to October 27	A Federal High Court in Abuja adjourned former Kaduna governor Nasir el-Rufai's N1 billion fundamental rights suit against the ICPC, the Inspector-General of Police, and the Attorney-General of the Federation to October 27, to let his lawyer respond to the AGF's counter-affidavit. El-Rufai is seeking an injunction barring the agencies from using items seized from his residence, their return, and general and exemplary damages. The ICPC says it opened its investigation after receiving a petition against him that led to the search of his home.	NASIR EL-RUFAI; ICPC; JUDICIARY; ANTI-CORRUPTION	GUARDIAN
GUARDIAN	22ND SEPTEMBER 2026	INEC cites concerns about AI threat to 2027 elections	INEC warned that AI-generated fabricated audio, video, and images are no longer a distant, theoretical risk to the credibility of the 2027 elections, saying generative AI has made manipulated content cheaper to produce and harder to detect. Separately, the opposition ADC alleged the elections may already be compromised by attacks on opposition parties and unpunished perpetrators, while a pro-Tinubu group, Nigeria Forward, urged the North to let the South complete two presidential terms.	2027 ELECTIONS; INEC; ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE; ADC	GUARDIAN
ARISE	22ND SEPTEMBER 2026	Three Killed, Six Injured As Gunmen Attack Mangu Vegetable Market, Plateau State	Gunmen opened fire on traders and market-goers at a vegetable market in Mangu, Plateau State, on Friday evening, killing three people and injuring six others, including a six-month-old infant. The Mwaghavul Youth Movement condemned the attack, said the circumstances raised concerns that Mwaghavul people were targeted, and called for an impartial investigation along with increased security around markets and other vulnerable locations.	PLATEAU STATE; MANGU; GUNMEN ATTACK; SECURITY	ARISE
DAILY TRUST	22ND SEPTEMBER 2026	Tinubu warns police against political bias ahead of 2027 elections	President Tinubu, addressing a police retreat in Owerri through SGF George Akume, charged the Nigeria Police Force to remain strictly neutral ahead of the 2027 elections, warning that the Force must not be seen as serving any political interest. He said election security requires intelligence-led operations, protection of citizens and electoral officials, and continued investment in police training, technology, and welfare.	2027 ELECTIONS; NIGERIA POLICE FORCE; PRESIDENT TINUBU	DAILY TRUST
DAILY TRUST	22ND SEPTEMBER 2026	15 political parties condemn attack on Kaduna ADC gov'ship candidate	Leaders of 15 political parties in Kaduna State visited ADC governorship candidate Isa Mohammed Ashiru at his residence to condemn a recent attack on him and his entourage, calling it a threat to democratic participation ahead of 2027. The coalition urged political actors and authorities to uphold peace and the rule of law, while Ashiru said the incident would not deter his campaign.	KADUNA STATE; ADC; POLITICAL VIOLENCE; 2027 ELECTIONS	DAILY TRUST
GUARDIAN	22ND SEPTEMBER 2026	IMF overhauls debt risk rules for poor nations, withholds key data	The IMF Executive Board approved changes to how it assesses debt risk in low-income countries, its first review of the framework since 2017, introducing a new model to flag debt-stress risk and tools for assessing domestic debt and climate-related financing pressures. However, the Fund will temporarily withhold the probability thresholds and individual country risk signals underpinning the new model, prompting some board members to push for fuller disclosure.	IMF; DEBT SUSTAINABILITY; LOW-INCOME COUNTRIES; INTERNATIONAL	GUARDIAN
VANGUARD	22ND SEPTEMBER 2026	US TV networks halt Trump coverage in revolt over White House ban	America's top five broadcasters suspended pooled White House television coverage of President Trump in solidarity with CNN after Trump barred CNN, MS NOW, and Politico from the White House and branded critical media a "cancer." The three outlets sued in a Washington federal court seeking to have the ban ruled unconstitutional, while Vice President JD Vance accused them of spreading "left-wing propaganda."	UNITED STATES; PRESS FREEDOM; DONALD TRUMP; MEDIA	VANGUARD
PREMIUM TIMES	21ST SEPTEMBER 2026	Nigeria to address UNGA on Thursday	Vice President Kashim Shettima will deliver Nigeria's national statement at the UN General Assembly on Thursday afternoon, his third consecutive year representing President Tinubu at the annual debate. Tinubu directed Shettima to again lead Nigeria's delegation to the 81st UNGA, where Shettima will also hold bilateral meetings alongside a delegation including Rivers Governor Fubara and Zamfara Governor Lawal.	UNGA; VICE PRESIDENT SHETTIMA; FOREIGN POLICY	PREMIUM TIMES
PREMIUM TIMES	21ST SEPTEMBER 2026	2027: APM names retired NNPC chief as Adamawa deputy governorship candidate	The Allied Peoples Movement unveiled Safriel Glah, a retired NNPC general manager with over 34 years in the oil and gas sector, as running mate to governorship candidate Abdulrahman Haske in Adamawa State's 2027 race. Party leaders described the pairing as combining private-sector enterprise with public administration experience to boost APM's prospects in the North-east state.	ADAMAWA STATE; APM; 2027 ELECTIONS; DEPUTY GOVERNORSHIP	PREMIUM TIMES
GUARDIAN	21ST SEPTEMBER 2026	Plateau 2027: NDC splits over competing governorship primary results	The NDC in Plateau State is embroiled in a dispute over its 2027 governorship candidate after national officials declared Da Jonathan Sunday Akuns winner of a substitution primary, while the state chairman held a separate meeting that a stakeholder alleges produced a rival nominee sent to INEC. The state chairman denies wrongdoing, and the party's national secretary says only the nationally endorsed name, Akuns, was forwarded to INEC, warning of legal action if a different name was acted upon.	PLATEAU STATE; NDC; 2027 ELECTIONS; INEC	GUARDIAN
GUARDIAN	21ST SEPTEMBER 2026	Ebonyi PDP guber candidate raises security concern over alleged threat to Running Mate	Ebonyi PDP governorship candidate Ifeanyi Odii alerted security agencies to protect his running mate, Patrick Mgbebu, a former APC member and state assembly lawmaker, ahead of the February 2027 election, calling for investigation of any credible threats. Odii urged all parties and security agencies to keep the campaign season peaceful and free of intimidation.	EBONYI STATE; PDP; 2027 ELECTIONS; POLITICAL SECURITY	GUARDIAN
GUARDIAN	21ST SEPTEMBER 2026	APC campaign council challenges Obi over Anambra debt claims	The APC Presidential Campaign Council accused NDC candidate Peter Obi of misleading Nigerians about Anambra's finances, citing the state government's disclosure that Obi's administration spent about $4.05 billion and left $92.35 million in outstanding external loans as of June 2026. Obi's camp disputes the characterisation, arguing the loans were federally negotiated development facilities rather than personally contracted debt, and an independent fact-check cited in the report found several facilities involved the Federal Government as the original borrower.	PETER OBI; ANAMBRA STATE; APC; 2027 ELECTIONS	GUARDIAN
ARISE	21ST SEPTEMBER 2026	Tinubu Extends Working Vacation, To Return To Nigeria Weekend	President Tinubu has extended his working vacation, begun August 30 in London and Paris, and is expected back in Nigeria this weekend, the Presidency said, adding that he has continued directing government business including ordering a panel to probe the deaths of 37 miners in NSCDC custody in Minna. The Presidency dismissed as "irresponsible" claims by Atiku Abubakar and a US lobbying firm about Tinubu's UNGA absence, while VP Shettima represents him in New York.	PRESIDENT TINUBU; PRESIDENCY; UNGA; NIGER STATE MINERS	ARISE
CHANNELS TV	21ST SEPTEMBER 2026	2027: Makinde Predicts APM Victory, Receives APC Defectors In Oyo	Oyo Governor Seyi Makinde formally received thousands of APC defectors into the Allied Peoples Movement at a rally in Ibadan, predicting the party would win widely in 2027, and urged APC governorship candidate Sharafadeen Alli to focus on APM's Bimbo Adekanmbi rather than criticising his administration. Makinde also linked Oyo's use of diesel-powered streetlights to what he called Tinubu's unfulfilled promise to fix Nigeria's electricity supply.	OYO STATE; APM; GOVERNOR MAKINDE; 2027 ELECTIONS	CHANNELS TV
CHANNELS TV	21ST SEPTEMBER 2026	Niger Miners' Deaths: Police Take Over Scene, Begin Probe	The Niger State Police Command took over the scene where 37 artisanal miners died in NSCDC custody in Minna and began a forensic investigation, following a directive from Inspector-General Olatunji Disu to establish the circumstances and ensure accountability. This follows the NSCDC parading its suspended Niger State commandant and other officers linked to the deaths.	NIGER STATE; NSCDC; MINERS DEATHS; POLICE INVESTIGATION	CHANNELS TV
VANGUARD	21ST SEPTEMBER 2026	2027: 'We can't keep turning the other cheek' - ADC warns against attacks on members	The ADC warned it is nearing the limit of its restraint over documented attacks on its members and property across states including Kaduna, Kebbi, Edo, Rivers, Enugu, and Kogi between July 2025 and September 2026, saying inadequate police response could push members toward self-help. The party is keeping a private record of incidents for possible legal action and international engagement, and challenged President Tinubu to clarify or withdraw his remark that "all is fair in politics."	ADC; POLITICAL VIOLENCE; 2027 ELECTIONS; NIGERIA POLICE FORCE	VANGUARD
ARISE	21ST SEPTEMBER 2026	CNN, Politico And MS NOW Sue Trump Administration Over White House Ban	CNN, Politico, and MS NOW sued the Trump administration in a Washington federal court after being barred from the White House, arguing the ban is an unconstitutional violation of press freedom, following President Trump's accusation that the outlets published "fiction or lies." The lawsuit seeks a quick ruling against the ban as major US broadcasters moved to suspend pooled White House coverage in solidarity.	UNITED STATES; PRESS FREEDOM; DONALD TRUMP; LITIGATION	ARISE
VANGUARD	21ST SEPTEMBER 2026	Illegal Miners' Deaths: NSCDC Parades Detained Commandant, 23 Others	The NSCDC paraded suspended Niger State Commandant Suberu Siyaka Aniviye and 23 other personnel at its Abuja headquarters over the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners in its custody, with Commandant-General Ahmed Abubakar Audi ordering the corps' flag flown at half-mast for three days from 20 September. Spokesman Babawale Afolabi said three more officers had been added to an earlier list of 21 suspects, bringing the total to 24 personnel held since 17 September for interrogation pending referral to the Presidential Independent Investigation Committee.	NSCDC; NIGER STATE; ILLEGAL MINING	VANGUARD
VANGUARD	21ST SEPTEMBER 2026	Fresh Plateau Attacks: About 8 Passengers Killed	At least nine people, including a pastor and five bus passengers, were killed in attacks between Saturday night and Sunday morning in Barkin Ladi, Riyom and neighbouring Plateau communities, triggering the evacuation of women and children amid continuing gunfire around Dorowa Bubuje and Kantoma. Governor Caleb Mutfwang vowed his administration would "not be defeated by violence or the gun," while Premium Times reported troops had since arrested 11 suspects in connection with the violence.	SECURITY; PLATEAU; COMMUNAL VIOLENCE	VANGUARD
DAILY TRUST	21ST SEPTEMBER 2026	Bandits Gun Down Mentally Ill Man, Abduct 28 In Sokoto Community	Bandits killed three people, including a mentally ill man who resisted abduction, and abducted 28 others during a three-hour attack on Kagara community in Goronyo LGA, Sokoto State, on Saturday night. Residents said 10 captives were released the next morning and two more in the afternoon, leaving 16 still held, while police confirmed three deaths and said nine of the abducted had escaped captivity.	SECURITY; SOKOTO; BANDITRY	DAILY TRUST
CHANNELS TV	21ST SEPTEMBER 2026	Troops Rescue 23 Kidnapped Victims, Arrest Four Suspected Lakurawa Members In Sokoto	Troops of Operation Fansan Yamma rescued 23 kidnapped victims and arrested four suspected Lakurawa terrorists in separate operations across Wurno, Sabon Birni and Illela LGAs of Sokoto State on 20 September, recovering six rustled cattle and evacuating two injured civilians for treatment. The military said the operations, which forced attackers to flee in Sabon Gari and along the Isa-Kwanar Isa-Shinkafi road, demonstrated sustained pressure on terrorist elements across the state.	SECURITY; SOKOTO; LAKURAWA	CHANNELS TV
VANGUARD	21ST SEPTEMBER 2026	Presidential Campaign Council: 'We Don't Need Your Validation' — OK Movement Tells NDC	The Obidient-Kwankwaso (OK) Movement rejected NDC National Chairman Moses Cleopas's criticism of its unilaterally unveiled 59-member presidential campaign council, with National Secretary Saadatu Sani insisting the grassroots movement, which claims about 2.5 million registered members, needs no party validation to campaign for the NDC ticket. The NDC had disowned the council on Saturday, and Sani demanded Cleopas withdraw his remarks and apologise to council head John Ughulu.	2027 ELECTIONS; NDC; OK MOVEMENT	VANGUARD
ARISE	21ST SEPTEMBER 2026	2027: Tinubu Moves To Define Wike's Role As FCT, Rivers Campaign Coordinator	President Tinubu is moving to formally make FCT Minister Nyesom Wike coordinator of his re-election campaign in Rivers State and the FCT without absorbing him into the APC hierarchy, an arrangement designed to defuse his standoff with APC governors over the Rainbow Coalition. Former Zamfara governor Abdulaziz Yari will serve as Presidential Campaign Council Director-General, though Senate President Godswill Akpabio and his deputy Jibrin Barau will not report to him, reflecting an emerging structure with separate power centres.	2027 ELECTIONS; WIKE; APC CAMPAIGN	ARISE
PREMIUM TIMES	21ST SEPTEMBER 2026	Presidency Explains Tinubu's Absence At UNGA	Presidential aide Ademola Osodi dismissed as "old chestnut" politics any suggestion that a past US legal history barred President Tinubu from attending the 81st UN General Assembly, insisting there was "absolutely no impediment" and citing his own past US trips with the president. Nigeria's UN envoy Jimoh Ibrahim said the country would retain its front-row seat with Vice President Shettima and Foreign Minister Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu representing Tinubu, who is focused on domestic economic and security priorities.	2027 ELECTIONS; UNGA; TINUBU	PREMIUM TIMES
PREMIUM TIMES	21ST SEPTEMBER 2026	2027: Explain Your Fuel Subsidy Plan, APC PCC Tells Atiku	The APC Presidential Campaign Council, in a statement by Dele Alake, demanded Atiku Abubakar disclose the legal basis, cost (estimated at N17-21 trillion annually) and funding source of his proposed "production subsidy" for locally refined petrol, asking whether it would fall foul of the Petroleum Industry Act. The council contrasted the proposal with the administration's CNG and electric-transit push and noted Atiku's 2022 description of the old subsidy as "fraudulent," pressing him to reconcile that with his August pledge to "restore it."	2027 ELECTIONS; APC; FUEL SUBSIDY	PREMIUM TIMES
ARISE	21ST SEPTEMBER 2026	Trump Threatens Iran With Economic Destruction, Leadership Elimination Unless Deal Is Reached	President Trump told Fox News the choice for Iran was to reach a deal or face having its economy left to "rot" or its leadership eliminated, while signalling openness to meeting Iranian President Pezeshkian at the UN General Assembly this week. Iran's military warned any fresh US strike would trigger "painful" regional retaliation, as the escalation follows the collapse of a June memorandum and comes days after Houthi forces claimed missile and drone strikes on Riyadh.	IRAN; UNITED STATES; TRUMP	ARISE
VANGUARD	20TH SEPTEMBER 2026	Effurun Attack: Keyamo Fingers NDC Thugs, Vows Action	Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo accused thugs loyal to the NDC of vandalising campaign billboards and looting shops with weapons in his Effurun community, Uvwie LGA of Delta State, on Friday, 18 September, alleging complicit law-enforcement officers were on the scene and vowing to petition the Inspector-General of Police. He said he wanted the "double standards" in reactions to political violence exposed, drawing a comparison to the earlier blockade of Peter Obi's convoy in Benue.	2027 ELECTIONS; DELTA STATE; POLITICAL VIOLENCE	VANGUARD
PUNCH	20TH SEPTEMBER 2026	Gunmen Kill, Behead Village Head In Kebbi	Gunmen attacked Lafagu community in Bagudo LGA of Kebbi State on Sunday and killed and beheaded the village head, police spokesman SP Bashir Usman confirmed, saying some arrests had already been made. Residents said the attackers' identity remained uncertain, with preliminary findings suggesting the killing may be linked to an armed ethnic militia rather than bandits or Lakurawa insurgents amid rising tension between Fulani, Kambarawa and Bargawa communities in the area.	SECURITY; KEBBI; TRADITIONAL RULER	PUNCH
CHANNELS TV	20TH SEPTEMBER 2026	Niger Miners' Deaths: Gov Bago Seeks Executive Order To Ban Mining In Some Areas	Niger State Governor Umaru Bago called for a presidential or ministerial executive order banning mining in identified problem locations, telling Channels' Sunday Politics he could only advocate, not order arrests. Bago disclosed 67 artisanal miners were initially detained before 37 died, said the site was an unlicensed former housing estate, and cited UNICEF projections that child labour in mining could empty JSS1 classrooms in the state by 2027.	NSCDC; NIGER STATE; ILLEGAL MINING	CHANNELS TV
CHANNELS TV	20TH SEPTEMBER 2026	Niger, Ondo Deaths: Falana Calls For Prosecution Of Suspects	Senior Advocate Femi Falana urged the Attorneys-General of Niger and Ondo States to prosecute those responsible for two separate mass-death incidents, comparing the Niger case to the 1980 suffocation of 50 suspects in a Lagos police "Black Maria" van and calling for detention facilities to meet the UN's Nelson Mandela Rules. He also urged prosecution of the 15 people NAFDAC said were arrested over alcoholic concoctions blamed for 48 deaths in Ondo, calling official outrage over the Niger deaths "hypocritical" given routine detention overcrowding nationwide.	NSCDC; ONDO STATE; LEGAL ACCOUNTABILITY	CHANNELS TV
CHANNELS TV	20TH SEPTEMBER 2026	Atiku Demands Explanation For Tinubu's Third Straight UNGA Absence	Atiku Abubakar demanded President Tinubu explain his third consecutive UNGA absence after the Presidency confirmed Vice President Shettima would again lead Nigeria's delegation, questioning whether a past US forfeiture case linked to Tinubu's name had any bearing while stressing he was not alleging any travel ban. He also questioned a reported $9 million lobbying spend and a seat reportedly secured for Tinubu near President Trump that went unused, arguing repeated delegation cannot substitute for personal presidential engagement.	2027 ELECTIONS; ATIKU ABUBAKAR; UNGA	CHANNELS TV
CHANNELS TV	20TH SEPTEMBER 2026	Tinubu's UNGA Absence Won't Change Nigeria's Role As Giant Of Africa — Aide	Presidential aide Ademola Osodi dismissed criticism of Tinubu's UNGA absence on Channels' Sunday Politics, saying the president was focused on domestic economy and security issues and that Nigeria's international standing was unaffected, since the country engages through multiple platforms including BRICS. Osodi rejected claims Tinubu had US travel restrictions as an "old chestnut," recalling accompanying the president on past US trips including a Los Angeles transit en route to Japan.	2027 ELECTIONS; TINUBU; UNGA	CHANNELS TV
ARISE	20TH SEPTEMBER 2026	Shettima To Lead Nigeria's Delegation To 81st UNGA In New York	President Tinubu mandated Vice President Kashim Shettima to lead Nigeria's delegation, including Rivers Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Zamfara Governor Dauda Lawal, to the 81st UN General Assembly General Debate running 22-28 September under the theme "Restoring trust, managing transformation." Shettima is expected to deliver Nigeria's national statement, join Right to Development and climate-action side meetings, and hold bilateral talks before returning to Nigeria.	2027 ELECTIONS; UNGA; SHETTIMA	ARISE
VANGUARD	20TH SEPTEMBER 2026	2027: Over 6,000 NDC Members Defect To PDP In Enugu	More than 6,000 NDC members from all 260 wards and 17 LGAs of Enugu State, led by Godwin Obasi, formally defected to the PDP, citing the NDC's choice of "unpopular candidates." PDP governorship candidate Uche Nnaji welcomed the group and attacked the Enugu government over unpaid pensions and multiple taxation, claiming the state had received more federal allocation under Tinubu in three years than three previous governors received in 24.	2027 ELECTIONS; ENUGU; DEFECTION	VANGUARD
VANGUARD	20TH SEPTEMBER 2026	Bye-Elections: APC Wins 4 Seats, APM Wins 1 Across Gombe, Kano, Bauchi And Delta	INEC declared results of Saturday's five legislative bye-elections, with the APC's Usman Maijama'a Kallamu winning the Gombe/Kwami/Funakaye federal seat with 41,121 of 46,551 valid votes, while the party also took Kano's Dawakin Kudu, Bauchi's Disina and Delta's Udu seats; the APM pulled the day's upset, defeating the APC by 4,744 votes in Bauchi's Sakwa constituency. INEC Chairman Joash Amupitan, monitoring from the commission's situation room, said the exercise offered operational lessons ahead of 2027 and dismissed speculation linking a recent foreign trip to plotting a presidential-election rigging scheme.	2027 ELECTIONS; BYE-ELECTIONS; INEC	VANGUARD
PREMIUM TIMES	20TH SEPTEMBER 2026	Lagos APC Orders Candidates To Stay In Nigeria Until 2027 Polls	Lagos APC chairman Cornelius Ojelabi barred all party candidates from travelling outside Nigeria until after the 2027 elections, issuing the directive at the inauguration of the APC's Tinubu-Hamzat Campaign Council in Ikeja, which formally opened the party's state-wide campaign. Ojelabi said the party was targeting five million votes in Lagos through grassroots mobilisation, and urged members to keep the campaign "devoid of hatred, thuggery and violence."	2027 ELECTIONS; LAGOS APC; CAMPAIGN	PREMIUM TIMES
GUARDIAN	20TH SEPTEMBER 2026	By-Election: Bauchi Police Arrest 50 With Guns, Machetes At Polling Units	Bauchi Police arrested 50 armed men claiming to belong to a state-owned security outfit at polling units in Disina State Constituency during Saturday's bye-election, despite an earlier directive barring quasi-security and vigilante groups from election coverage. Police spokesman SP Nafiu Habib said cutlasses, sticks and firearms were recovered, and Commissioner of Police Sani-Omolori Aliyu ordered the suspects transferred to the State CID for prosecution.	2027 ELECTIONS; BAUCHI; ELECTION SECURITY	GUARDIAN
GUARDIAN	20TH SEPTEMBER 2026	NDC Campaign Council Demands Probe Into Attack On One Million-Man March In Delta	The Deacon Chris Campaign Council demanded a probe into Friday's disruption of an NDC "One Million-Man March" in Warri/Effurun, alleging thugs armed with firearms, bottles, knives and stones confronted marchers at several locations and that an individual carrying an AK-47 was disarmed and handed to police. Five participants were injured, the council said, welcoming the Delta State Government's directive that security agencies investigate and prosecute anyone found culpable.	2027 ELECTIONS; DELTA STATE; POLITICAL VIOLENCE	GUARDIAN
GUARDIAN	20TH SEPTEMBER 2026	PDP Governorship Candidate Accuses Otti Of Neglecting Abia Workers	PDP Abia governorship candidate Kelechi Anosike accused Governor Alex Otti of neglecting workers despite increased federal allocations, telling reporters in Abuja the state had the resources to raise wages and improve welfare and pledging not to sack public servants for political reasons if elected in 2027. Anosike said continuity, fairness and professionalism would guide his administration's approach to the civil service.	2027 ELECTIONS; ABIA STATE; PDP	GUARDIAN
ARISE	20TH SEPTEMBER 2026	Otti Rules Out Senate Bid, Says He'll Quit Politics After 2031	Abia Governor Alex Otti said he would retire from active politics after completing his tenure in 2031, ruling out a Senate bid and vowing not to become a political godfather, telling supporters in Umuahia that his successor would emerge by merit rather than a "sit-tight" system. Otti said his administration had focused on restoring Aba and Umuahia before extending development to the hinterlands over its roughly 39 months in office.	2027 ELECTIONS; ABIA STATE; ALEX OTTI	ARISE
ARISE	20TH SEPTEMBER 2026	2027: Peter Obi Cautions Politicians Against Unrealistic Campaign Promises	NDC presidential candidate Peter Obi urged rival politicians to avoid unrealistic campaign promises they cannot fulfil in office, calling for issue-based, demand-driven campaigns at a town hall with NDC supporters in Kaduna State. Obi pledged to spend his annual holidays in Nigeria rather than abroad if elected, using the periods to visit communities facing insecurity, while running mate Rabiu Kwankwaso urged voter participation in the electoral process.	2027 ELECTIONS; PETER OBI; NDC	ARISE
VANGUARD	20TH SEPTEMBER 2026	PDP Demands Probe Of Alleged Attack On Campaign Train In Ogun	Ogun PDP chairman Abayomi Tella demanded an IGP-led probe into an alleged attack on the party's campaign train at Ososa, Odogbolu LGA, on Wednesday, saying hoodlums fired gunshots and threw objects at convoy vehicles and that police had since arrested five or six PDP members who were meant to be complainants. The APC's Ogun publicity secretary separately alleged the shooting involved security personnel attached to PDP governorship candidate Ladi Adebutu and also called for a police investigation.	2027 ELECTIONS; OGUN STATE; PDP	VANGUARD
VANGUARD	20TH SEPTEMBER 2026	2027 Polls: Appeal Court Validates Registration Of NDC As Political Party	The Court of Appeal in Abuja, in a split 2-1 decision, set aside a Federal High Court judgment that had ordered the NDC's deregistration, ruling the lower court abused its own judicial hierarchy by sitting in appeal over its earlier ruling. NDC leader Seriake Dickson hailed the decision as protecting Nigeria's democratic space, saying the party's registration "remains valid and subsisting" for all 2027 elections, while dissenting Justice Okon Abang upheld the deregistration.	2027 ELECTIONS; NDC; COURT RULING	VANGUARD
PUNCH	20TH SEPTEMBER 2026	2027: Ekiti ADC, NDC Candidates Condemn Attack On Campaign Office	ADC senatorial candidate Funso Ayeni raised alarm over the vandalisation of his campaign office in Ido-Ekiti, calling on security agencies to investigate, while the NDC's rival candidate for the same seat separately condemned the attack as "political intolerance" alien to Ekiti's peaceful character. Both candidates urged Governor Biodun Oyebanji's government to maintain a peaceful political atmosphere, warning against a repeat of the violence experienced in Osun's election season.	2027 ELECTIONS; EKITI STATE; POLITICAL VIOLENCE	PUNCH
PUNCH	20TH SEPTEMBER 2026	2027: Igboho Declares Support For Osun Accord Reps Candidate	Yoruba Nation activist Sunday Igboho declared support for Accord Party House of Representatives candidate Pelumi Olajengbesi in Osun's Oriade/Obokun federal constituency, recalling that Olajengbesi provided him legal representation after his 2021 raid and Benin Republic detention. Olajengbesi, a former campaign spokesperson for Governor Ademola Adeleke, is set to challenge incumbent APC lawmaker Wole Oke in 2027.	2027 ELECTIONS; OSUN STATE; ACCORD PARTY	PUNCH
DAILY TRUST	20TH SEPTEMBER 2026	2027: APM Campaign Council To Begin Zonal Town Hall Meetings In Katsina	The Makinde/Daura Presidential Campaign Organisation announced its nationwide zonal town hall meetings would begin in Katsina State, part of grassroots consultations spanning all six geopolitical zones under the "Reset Nigeria" message, spokesman Tony Ehilebo said in Abuja. Ehilebo cited the APM's Bauchi bye-election win as evidence of momentum for Governor Seyi Makinde and running mate Lawal Daura ahead of the 2027 presidential race.	2027 ELECTIONS; APM; SEYI MAKINDE	DAILY TRUST
CHANNELS TV	20TH SEPTEMBER 2026	US Fears Rapid Escalation In Mideast After Houthis Attack Riyadh	The US warned Saudi-Houthi hostilities could "escalate rapidly" after Yemen's Houthis fired ballistic and cruise missiles and drones at Riyadh and Aramco's Yanbu facility on Saturday, the first strike threatening the Saudi capital since fighting resumed in July; a Saudi-led coalition said the Riyadh missile was intercepted, while President Trump cut short a Camp David trip to return to the White House. The UN says the Houthi offensive to seize Yemen's Red Sea coast has left hundreds dead and displaced over 110,000 people, days after Washington approved a $24.3 billion F-35 sale to Riyadh.	YEMEN; SAUDI ARABIA; HOUTHIS	CHANNELS TV
ARISE	20TH SEPTEMBER 2026	Trump Floats New Names For Artificial Intelligence, Asks Public To Vote	President Trump questioned the term "Artificial Intelligence" as inaccurate and ineloquent, proposing "Superior Intelligence," "Extreme Intelligence" or "Supreme Intelligence" as alternatives and inviting the public to vote on his social media platform. Trump did not indicate any formal change was being considered by his administration, presenting the proposal as an informal poll on how to describe the ongoing technology's development.	UNITED STATES; TRUMP; ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE	ARISE
PREMIUM TIMES	19TH SEPTEMBER 2026	APC Challenges Atiku To Present Alternatives To Tinubu Reforms	APC National Publicity Secretary Felix Morka challenged Atiku Abubakar to present detailed policy alternatives to President Tinubu's economic reforms rather than only criticising them, speaking on Channels' Politics Today in response to the ADC candidate's attacks on the administration's handling of the economy. Morka argued Atiku had yet to explain concretely how he would improve Nigerians' living standards if elected.	2027 ELECTIONS; APC; ATIKU ABUBAKAR	PREMIUM TIMES
PREMIUM TIMES	19TH SEPTEMBER 2026	Peter Obi's SSG Reacts To Debt Controversy, Releases Document	Oseloka Obaze, Anambra's former Secretary to the State Government, said Peter Obi left N86.6 billion in state coffers in 2014 and released a handover letter he said was signed by incoming Governor Willie Obiano, after Anambra's finance commissioner claimed Governor Charles Soludo's administration was still repaying debts Obi incurred. Premium Times noted Obiano's acknowledgement of the letter does not by itself confirm the funds were actually available, as the handover was never jointly verified by the outgoing and incoming administrations.	2027 ELECTIONS; PETER OBI; ANAMBRA DEBT	PREMIUM TIMES
CHANNELS TV	19TH SEPTEMBER 2026	IGP Disu Assures Thorough Probe Into Deaths Of 37 Persons In NSCDC Custody	Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Disu, on a condolence visit to Governor Umaru Bago in Minna, assured that police would work closely with the NSCDC and state government to establish the circumstances of the 37 deaths, saying the force had already secured the scene to preserve evidence. Disu appealed to residents to remain calm and refrain from taking the law into their own hands, while Bago disclosed the state had suspended all mining activities pending the investigation's outcome.	NSCDC; NIGER STATE; POLICE INVESTIGATION	CHANNELS TV
PUNCH	19TH SEPTEMBER 2026	US Charges Three Nigerians, 13 Others Over Election Crimes	The US Department of Justice charged three Nigerian nationals, Gladys Adaeze Okafor, Helen Sayen Adams and Joshua Nmelichukwu Akpom, among 16 foreign nationals over alleged illegal voting, false citizenship claims and related naturalisation, passport and wire fraud offences across several federal districts. Okafor, a lawful permanent resident in Massachusetts, was accused of voting in both the 2022 midterms and 2024 general election, while the DOJ stressed the charges do not constitute findings of guilt.	UNITED STATES; NIGERIANS; ELECTION FRAUD	PUNCH
PREMIUM TIMES	18TH SEPTEMBER 2026	Niger State Imposes 24-Hour Curfew After Suspects Die In NSCDC Custody	Niger State imposed a 24-hour curfew across Minna from Friday evening after protests turned violent over the deaths of more than 37 suspected illegal miners in NSCDC custody, suspending all mining activity, cancelling a planned APC rally and standing down Commandant Suberu Aniviye's team. Governor Umaru Bago set up a probe committee chaired by his deputy Yakubu Garba, while President Tinubu ordered a comprehensive federal probe and said "there must be accountability," as security forces used live rounds to disperse protesters, some of whom tried to torch government buildings in the Tunga area.	NSCDC; NIGER STATE; CURFEW	PREMIUM TIMES
GUARDIAN	18TH SEPTEMBER 2026	NAFDAC Links Ondo Mass Deaths To Methanol-Contaminated Alcoholic Concoctions	NAFDAC Director-General Mojisola Adeyeye said laboratory tests found high concentrations of toxic methanol, and cannabis indica in 11 of 15 samples, in locally brewed alcoholic and herbal concoctions blamed for 48 deaths and 182 illnesses across Odigbo and Irele LGAs of Ondo State since early September, with five victims left totally blind and two partially blind. NAFDAC said 15 people had been arrested over the production and sale of the drinks, with confirmatory toxicology testing continuing.	ONDO STATE; NAFDAC; PUBLIC HEALTH	GUARDIAN
GUARDIAN	18TH SEPTEMBER 2026	2027: Mambilla Verdict: APC Demands Atiku's Withdrawal From Presidential Race	The APC Presidential Campaign Council, through spokesman Dele Alake, called on Atiku Abubakar to withdraw from the 2027 race after an ICC tribunal in Paris rejected Sunrise Power's claims over the Mambilla hydropower project and details emerged of a $500,000 payment its promoter made to Atiku's former wife in 2003; the tribunal itself did not find that Atiku personally received a bribe or ordered the payment, a distinction the council's characterisation went beyond. President Tinubu separately hailed the ruling as clearing the project's biggest legal hurdle, crediting former Presidents Obasanjo and Buhari's roles in the arbitration.	2027 ELECTIONS; ATIKU ABUBAKAR; MAMBILLA	GUARDIAN
CHANNELS TV	18TH SEPTEMBER 2026	Niger Govt Cancels APC Rally, Declares Three Days Mourning For NSCDC Custody Deaths	The Niger State Government cancelled a weekend APC political rally scheduled for Minna following the deaths of 37 detainees in NSCDC custody, with Governor Umaru Bago declaring a three-day mourning period and extending condolences to the victims' families. The government said the decision reflected respect for the deceased and directed relevant authorities to take necessary steps regarding the incident.	NSCDC; NIGER STATE; APC	CHANNELS TV
CHANNELS TV	18TH SEPTEMBER 2026	Gov Oborevwori Orders Probe As Suspected Thugs Disrupt NDC Mobilisation Campaign In Delta	An NDC "One Million March" in Effurun, Delta State, was disrupted when a confrontation broke out between marchers and men described by organisers as suspected APC thugs, with online videos showing a chaotic scene along Airport Road. The Delta State Government condemned the violence, and Commissioner Charles Aniagwu said Governor Sheriff Oborevwori had directed security agencies to investigate and prosecute anyone found culpable, insisting every party retained the right to campaign peacefully anywhere in the state.	2027 ELECTIONS; DELTA STATE; POLITICAL VIOLENCE	CHANNELS TV
VANGUARD	18TH SEPTEMBER 2026	FG Suspends NSCDC Commandant Over Miners' Deaths In Custody	Minister of Interior Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo ordered the immediate suspension of Niger State NSCDC Commandant Suberu Siyaka Aniviye following the deaths of suspected illegal miners arrested during enforcement operations in the M.I. Wushishi/Lukoto axis of Minna on 15-16 September. The minister described the incident as unfortunate and ordered a full-scale investigation while commiserating with Niger State Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago and the families of the deceased; NSCDC Commandant-General Ahmed Abubakar Audi subsequently directed the suspended commandant and his heads of operations, mining, legal, intelligence and investigation to report to a panel of inquiry in Abuja, and a new commandant has been sent to take over the state command.	NSCDC; NIGER STATE; ILLEGAL MINING	VANGUARD
CHANNELS TV	18TH SEPTEMBER 2026	Niger Detention Deaths: Interior Minister Orders Probe, NSCDC State Commandant, Key Officers Step Aside	The Minister of Interior directed NSCDC Commandant-General Ahmed Abubakar Audi to conduct a full-scale, transparent investigation into the deaths of illegal miners in the corps' custody in Niger State, prompting Audi to order the state commandant and the heads of operations, mining, legal, intelligence and investigation to step aside and report to NSCDC headquarters in Abuja to appear before a panel of inquiry. The corps said personnel found to have breached the law or professional standards would face administrative, disciplinary or criminal sanctions, while a new commandant has been sent to assume command of the Niger State Command.	NSCDC; NIGER STATE; ILLEGAL MINING	CHANNELS TV
DAILY TRUST	18TH SEPTEMBER 2026	Bandits Kill 13 in Zamfara, Causing Residents in 3 Villages to Flee Homes	Bandits killed at least 13 people and sacked the villages of Dandallah, Tudu Gabas and Unguwar Majidadi in Dansadau Emirate, Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara State, in reprisal after local vigilantes killed a bandit kingpin and some of his men. Residents said the bandits accused the villages of colluding with the vigilantes, and that 80 to 90 per cent of residents had fled to Dansadau town; the Zamfara Police Command said it was making inquiries but had not responded further by the time of filing.	SECURITY; BANDITRY; ZAMFARA	DAILY TRUST
DAILY TRUST	18TH SEPTEMBER 2026	INEC Seeks Increased PWD Participation As Only 6 Contest N'Assembly Seats	INEC has begun engaging organisations of persons with disabilities to boost their participation in the 2027 elections after a Daily Trust analysis found only six PWDs, all House of Representatives aspirants, among the 4,863 National Assembly candidates on the commission's final lists, with no senatorial candidates identified as disabled. Acting INEC chairman Rhoda Gumus cited accessibility measures including Braille ballot guides and sign-language interpretation, while political scientist Abubakar Kari described Nigeria's 2018 Disability Act as "legislative tokenism" that has gone largely unimplemented.	2027 ELECTIONS; INEC; DISABILITY	DAILY TRUST
GUARDIAN	18TH SEPTEMBER 2026	Govs, 36 Assemblies Decide Fate Of State Police, Consider Amended Bill	The National Assembly has transmitted the Constitution (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026, providing for State Police, to all 36 State Houses of Assembly for concurrence, with at least 24 assemblies needed to approve it. Security expert Charles Omole warned that replicating the Nigeria Police Force's current culture across 36 states could worsen insecurity absent strong safeguards, while police reform committee chairman Olu Ogunsakin expressed optimism that all 36 states would back the reform; the Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures said assemblies were still awaiting formal transmission of the bills before beginning deliberations.	STATE POLICE; NATIONAL ASSEMBLY; CONSTITUTION	GUARDIAN
THISDAY	18TH SEPTEMBER 2026	Obi: If Elected President, I'll Correct Bad Policies Initiated By Tinubu's Govt	In an extensive Arise News interview, NDC presidential candidate Peter Obi said he would fight corruption in the subsidy regime, redirect subsidies to agriculture and productive sectors, and invest heavily in the North's agricultural potential and education if elected. He pledged a single term limited to four years, no new presidential buildings, no foreign holidays, a presidency personally engaged in security crises rather than run from Abuja, and said he would not pay ransom to kidnappers, while reiterating his belief that he won the 2023 election and vowing to respect the outcome of a free, fair and credible 2027 poll.	2027 ELECTIONS; PETER OBI; INTERVIEW	THISDAY
DAILY TRUST	18TH SEPTEMBER 2026	More Nigerians Return From South Africa	The Federal Government facilitated the return of 33 more distressed Nigerians, including 16 minors, from South Africa on a flight that arrived on 16 September, amid renewed Afrophobic attacks on Africans in the country. Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesperson Oluwafemi Adeniyi said this was the 12th consular evacuation since the exercise began on 10 June 2026, bringing the total number evacuated to 1,716, with the government fully funding about 81 per cent of the exercise and the rest supported by Nigerian professional groups in South Africa.	SOUTH AFRICA; AFROPHOBIA; DIASPORA EVACUATION	DAILY TRUST
DAILY TRUST	18TH SEPTEMBER 2026	Scores Killed As Houthis, Yemen Govt, Saudi Arabia Trade Attacks	Fresh fighting in Yemen killed at least 23 government soldiers in Houthi missile and drone attacks and 40 Houthi fighters in Saudi airstrikes over 24 hours, while Saudi Arabia recorded its first fatality from Houthi strikes on its territory after shrapnel from a downed drone killed one person in Taif. The escalation follows the Iran-backed Houthis' new offensive that seized the country's Red Sea coast and the Bab al-Mandab Strait, compounding pressure on Gulf oil shipping routes already affected by Iran's restrictions on the Strait of Hormuz; the EU condemned the Houthi strikes and urged an end to the military action.	YEMEN; HOUTHIS; SAUDI ARABIA	DAILY TRUST
PREMIUM TIMES	17TH SEPTEMBER 2026	Rainbow Coalition: APC South-East Caucus Backs Governors, Asks Wike To Apologise For 'Disrespect'	APC leaders in the South-east, led by National Vice Chairman Ijeomah Arodiogbu and the zone's state chairmen, demanded that FCT Minister Nyesom Wike apologise to APC governors over his criticism of their political capacity and opposition to his Rainbow Coalition, saying the governors had proven their ability to mobilise votes for President Tinubu in 2023. The group accused Wike of insulting and plotting to remove sitting progressive governors, insisted he had no authority over elected governors, and reaffirmed solidarity with all APC governors and candidates ahead of 2027.	2027 ELECTIONS; RAINBOW COALITION; APC SOUTH-EAST	PREMIUM TIMES
PREMIUM TIMES	17TH SEPTEMBER 2026	Shettima Clarifies Remarks On Northern Governors' Support For President Tinubu In 2023	The Office of the Vice President clarified that Kashim Shettima's earlier remark that only six northern governors supported President Tinubu referred strictly to consultations before the June 2022 APC presidential primary, not to the governors' stance after Tinubu's emergence as candidate or during the 2023 general election. Media aide Stanley Nkwocha said all northern APC governors rallied behind Tinubu after the primary and played vital roles in his victory, and that Shettima holds all northern governors and APC leaders in high regard, regretting any contrary interpretation of his comments.	2023 ELECTIONS; SHETTIMA; NORTHERN GOVERNORS	PREMIUM TIMES
GUARDIAN	17TH SEPTEMBER 2026	Dickson: Political Differences Must Not Trigger Violence Ahead Of 2027	NDC National Leader Henry Seriake Dickson warned political actors against turning 2027 election disputes into violence, intimidation or restrictions on citizens' democratic rights, saying "we are not enemies, we are fellow Nigerians who disagree," while receiving notification of his selection as LEADERSHIP Newspaper's Politician of the Year 2026. The former Bayelsa governor urged President Tinubu to lead efforts to reduce political tensions and ensure security agencies provide a level playing field for all parties, and reaffirmed the NDC's commitment to contesting fully in the 2027 elections alongside Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso.	2027 ELECTIONS; NDC; POLITICAL VIOLENCE	GUARDIAN
VANGUARD	17TH SEPTEMBER 2026	Lagos APC Unveils 2027 Campaign Council, Names Sanwo-Olu, Fashola, Ambode	The Lagos APC unveiled its 2027 campaign council with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu as advisory council chairman and campaign council chairman, and former governors Babatunde Fashola and Akinwunmi Ambode as co-chairmen of the advisory council, alongside Tinubu's Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila and Assembly Speaker Mudashiru Obasa. Former Senator Musiliu Obanikoro was named Director-General of the campaign council, with governorship candidate Kadri Obafemi Hamzat as deputy chairman, ahead of the council's formal inauguration on 18 September at the APC Secretariat in Ikeja.	2027 ELECTIONS; LAGOS APC; CAMPAIGN COUNCIL	VANGUARD
PREMIUM TIMES	17TH SEPTEMBER 2026	2027: Wike Says Otti Backing Tinubu; Abia Govt Says 'Confirmation Will Come At Appropriate Time'	FCT Minister Nyesom Wike said Abia Governor Alex Otti is backing President Tinubu's 2027 re-election, arguing that support for Tinubu does not mean the Labour Party would stop fielding candidates elsewhere, but Abia Information Commissioner Okey Kanu stopped short of confirming this, saying only that Otti and Tinubu have a "very cordial" relationship and that any definitive declaration would come from the governor himself. The exchange comes amid mixed signals from other Abia politicians, including Senator Orji Kalu's apparent softened stance on an APC takeover of the state and continuing ambiguity over Otti's 2027 political alignment.	2027 ELECTIONS; ABIA; OTTI	PREMIUM TIMES
PUNCH	17TH SEPTEMBER 2026	I Won't Be A Godfather, Abia Voters Will Pick My Successor - Otti	Abia Governor Alex Otti said he will not seek to influence his succession after completing a second term in 2031, insisting the state's voters should choose whoever is best for the job rather than perpetuating "sit-tight" politics. Speaking in Umuahia while receiving former SDP governorship candidate Ngozi Johnson-Chukwunenye into the Labour Party, Otti said he does not tolerate godfathers, cited his administration's Leadership Academy for grooming young leaders, and defended his record of restoring Aba and Umuahia against unnamed critics.	ABIA; ALEX OTTI; SUCCESSION	PUNCH
DAILY TRUST	17TH SEPTEMBER 2026	2027: Obi-Kwankwaso Movement Unveils 59-Member Presidential Campaign Council	The Obi-Kwankwaso (OK) Movement unveiled a 59-member Presidential Campaign Council covering all six geopolitical zones, the FCT and the 36 states to mobilise support for NDC candidate Peter Obi and running mate Rabiu Kwankwaso ahead of 2027. Movement Director-General John Ughulu was named to head the campaign council, with National Secretary Saadatu Sani in the leadership and zonal coordinators named for each region, as the council takes on directorates covering mobilisation, women affairs, strategy, security, legal affairs, IT and administration.	2027 ELECTIONS; OBI-KWANKWASO MOVEMENT	DAILY TRUST
CHANNELS TV	17TH SEPTEMBER 2026	NSCDC Confirms Deaths Of Suspected Illegal Miners In Niger Custody	The NSCDC's Niger State Command confirmed that some suspected illegal miners arrested during a "burst operation" in M.I. Wushishi and Lukoto Village on 15-16 September died in custody in the early hours of 17 September, in what Commandant Suberu Aniviye described as a suspected disease outbreak. The bodies were deposited at General Hospital, Minna, for medical examination, and the corps said it was working with other security agencies and appealed for calm from the families of the deceased and the public.	NSCDC; NIGER STATE; ILLEGAL MINING	CHANNELS TV
CHANNELS TV	17TH SEPTEMBER 2026	If Elected, I Will End Insecurity In Two Years Or Resign, Says Zamfara NDC Gov Candidate	NDC governorship candidate in Zamfara, Senator Kabir Marafa, pledged to end insecurity in the state within two years of taking office in 2027 or voluntarily resign, citing his experience as a former commissioner and senator in understanding the state's problems. Speaking to the Correspondents Chapel of the NUJ in Gusau, Marafa also donated campaign vehicles to party executives and urged Zamfara residents to support the NDC's candidates in the 2027 elections.	2027 ELECTIONS; ZAMFARA; NDC	CHANNELS TV
CHANNELS TV	17TH SEPTEMBER 2026	2027: APC Inaugurates Campaign Council In Ogun, Orders Immediate Grassroots Mobilisation	Ogun State APC inaugurated its 2027 campaign council under Governor Dapo Abiodun, directing members to immediately mobilise support across the state's 20 local government areas and 236 wards for President Tinubu, governorship candidate Olamilekan "Yayi" Adeola and other party candidates. Abiodun urged an issue-based campaign highlighting his administration's record in infrastructure, education and the Gateway International Airport, while former governor Olusegun Osoba appealed to aggrieved members to "sheathe their swords" and work for the party's unity.	2027 ELECTIONS; OGUN APC; CAMPAIGN COUNCIL	CHANNELS TV
THISDAY	17TH SEPTEMBER 2026	NGE's Warning Signs: Press Freedom, Politics And Security Ahead Of 2027	In this opinion piece, Iyobosa Uwugiaren examines a communiqué from the Nigerian Guild of Editors' Kano meeting warning against the harassment and prosecution of journalists under cybercrime and other laws, urging aggrieved parties to use the Media Ombudsman rather than intimidation. The piece also discusses the Guild's calls for a level playing field for political parties ahead of 2027, restraint from inflammatory campaign rhetoric, sustained security operations against terrorism and banditry, and welfare-focused economic reforms.	PRESS FREEDOM; 2027 ELECTIONS; NGE	THISDAY
PREMIUM TIMES	17TH SEPTEMBER 2026	UN Mission Says US Committed War Crimes In Iran	A UN fact-finding mission found reasonable grounds to believe the United States committed war crimes in February strikes on Iran's Minab Elementary School, which killed over 165 schoolgirls, and on a sports facility in Lamerd, saying both constituted indiscriminate attacks on civilian targets; the US has refused to accept responsibility and says it is still investigating. The mission, whose report goes to the UN Human Rights Council, also found Iranian authorities committed crimes against humanity, including illegal killings, torture and persecution, in their crackdown on nationwide protests that began in December and left more than 3,000 people dead.	IRAN; UNITED STATES; WAR CRIMES	PREMIUM TIMES
ARISE NEWS	17TH SEPTEMBER 2026	India Warns US Tariffs Could Strain Ties Over Russian Oil	India warned that new US tariffs targeting buyers of Russian oil could strain bilateral relations, after the US House of Representatives passed a sanctions and tariff bill that could let President Trump impose tariffs of up to 100% on countries including India for continuing to purchase Russian crude. India's foreign ministry said it would take all necessary measures to protect its trade and economic interests while continuing to source energy based on market conditions, as the world's third-largest oil importer and one of the biggest buyers of Russian crude since 2022.	INDIA; UNITED STATES; RUSSIAN OIL	ARISE NEWS
PREMIUM TIMES	17TH SEPTEMBER 2026	THROWBACK: What I Met In Govt Coffers On Taking Over From Peter Obi – Obiano	Amid the ongoing dispute between Governor Charles Soludo's administration and NDC presidential candidate Peter Obi over Anambra's finances, Premium Times revisited earlier statements by Obi's successor, Willie Obiano, and his then-Secretary to the State Government, Solo Chukwulobelu, who said in 2015 and 2017 that Obiano's government inherited N185 billion in current and contingent liabilities and only N9 billion in cash, contradicting Obi's claim of leaving N75 billion in savings. Former APGA chairman Victor Umeh separately maintained in 2017 that Obi's savings claim was false, though he acknowledged Obi had invested funds in long-maturity bonds inaccessible to Obiano's government. The Anambra government has since released loan records showing Obi's administration took eight external loans totalling $123.7 million between 2007 and 2013, with $92.35 million still outstanding.	2027 ELECTIONS; PETER OBI; ANAMBRA	PREMIUM TIMES
DAILY TRUST	17TH SEPTEMBER 2026	3 Vigilantes Killed In Plateau Attack	Three community vigilantes were shot dead by armed men around 11pm on Tuesday in the NTV community, Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State, while on guard duty, residents said. A local resident, Gabriel Ayuba, and Berom Youth Moulders spokesperson Rwang Tengwong confirmed the killings and called on security agencies to intensify patrols and bring the perpetrators to justice; the state police command and Operation Enduring Peace spokespersons did not respond to inquiries, and the attack adds to a string of recent killings across the state.	SECURITY; PLATEAU; VIGILANTES	DAILY TRUST
GUARDIAN	17TH SEPTEMBER 2026	Group Faults Proposed Atiku-Obi Alliance As MCE Begins Talks With Opposition	An APC-aligned group, BTO4PBAT, said a proposed alliance between ADC's Atiku Abubakar and NDC's Peter Obi would not be enough to defeat President Tinubu in 2027, arguing that combining opposition support bases does not automatically translate into votes and that the coalition would first need to resolve leadership and structural differences. Separately, the Prof. Pat Utomi-led Political Commission of the Movement for Credible Elections (MCE) has begun closed-door engagements with nine shortlisted opposition parties, including the SDP, ADC, NDC and PDP, aimed at producing a single opposition presidential candidate ahead of a tactical session in Ibadan in two weeks; participants will be required to commit in advance to supporting whichever candidate emerges.	2027 ELECTIONS; OPPOSITION ALLIANCE; MCE	GUARDIAN
GUARDIAN	17TH SEPTEMBER 2026	2027: CSOs Raise Alarm Over Politicians' Plot To 'Buy' Dons, Monarchs	The Resource Centre for Human Rights & Civic Education (CHRICED) warned that university dons with recent partisan involvement could be deployed as INEC returning and collation officers in 2027, after reports that over 600 senior northern academics attended a closed-door Kaduna meeting convened by presidential aide Ibrahim Masari to mobilise support for President Tinubu's re-election. The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) separately criticised the use of traditional rulers and religious and academic institutions for partisan endorsements, citing visits by Tinubu's campaign council to monarchs and past convictions of academic returning officers for election manipulation as evidence that credentials alone do not guarantee neutrality.	2027 ELECTIONS; INEC; CIVIL SOCIETY	GUARDIAN
CHANNELS TV	17TH SEPTEMBER 2026	Four Kidnap Victims Rescued As Police Foil Bandit Attack In Katsina	The Katsina State Police Command rescued four kidnap victims, including a nursing baby, and recovered an AK-47 rifle after foiling a bandit attack in Dutsin-Ma Local Government Area, following a distress call over the abduction of three women from Makwanta Village early Wednesday. Police tracked the fleeing suspects to the Dutsin-Ma–Danmusa border, where a gun battle forced the bandits to flee with gunshot wounds and abandon their victims unhurt; Commissioner of Police Ali Umar Fage commended the operatives and said efforts to arrest the fleeing suspects continue.	SECURITY; KIDNAPPING; KATSINA	CHANNELS TV
GUARDIAN	17TH SEPTEMBER 2026	Xenophobia In South Africa's Ivory Towers	In this opinion piece, Professor Adekeye Adebajo writes that a wave of Afrophobia swept South African universities in 2026, noting that foreign academics make up only 12 per cent of permanent staff at the country's public universities even as a parliamentary committee pushes to restrict their hiring to "critical or scarce skills," a stance he says misunderstands universities' cosmopolitan mission. He cites Wits University data recording over 935 xenophobic incidents and 384 deaths since 1994, and argues the hostility is directed almost solely at African academics from elsewhere on the continent rather than at Western academics, drawing on his own experience running a Pan-African institute at the University of Johannesburg.	XENOPHOBIA; SOUTH AFRICA; HIGHER EDUCATION	GUARDIAN
CHANNELS TV	17TH SEPTEMBER 2026	World's Water Cycle Becoming More Unpredictable, UN Warns	The UN's World Meteorological Organization warned that the planet's water cycle is swinging increasingly between extremes, with 2025 among the three driest years for the world's rivers in 35 years and glaciers losing a cumulative 1,400 gigatonnes of water between 2023 and 2025. WMO chief Celeste Saulo said the world is depleting "slow reserves" like groundwater and glaciers that once buffered droughts, and warned that a strengthening El Niño, expected to be the strongest in four decades, would raise the risk of both drought and flooding, urging countries to share hydrological data and early-warning systems across borders.	CLIMATE; WATER RESOURCES; UNITED NATIONS	CHANNELS TV
DAILY TRUST	16TH SEPTEMBER 2026	PDP Replaces Kano Gov'ship Candidate With Abacha's Son	The Kano State PDP named Muhammad Sani Abacha, son of the late Head of State Sani Abacha, as its governorship candidate after earlier nominee Muhammad Bello Dalha withdrew following consultations, state chairman Bello Gambo Bichi said at an expanded executive committee meeting. A replacement primary formally confirmed Abacha's emergence, and the party resolved a factional dispute by ceding the deputy governorship slot to the Kabiru Tanimu Turaki camp, naming Yusuf Ado Kibiya as running mate; some National and State Assembly candidates were also replaced as part of the reconciliation, which Bichi said left the party "waxing stronger" ahead of 2027.	2027 ELECTIONS; PDP; KANO	DAILY TRUST
GUARDIAN	16TH SEPTEMBER 2026	Soludo Releases Obi's 'Debt Records', Accuses Him Of Unpaid Bills	The Anambra State Government published what it called Peter Obi's public debt records fourteen years after he left office, with Commissioner for Information Law Mefor alleging Obi's administration spent about $4.05 billion (N5.4 trillion) over eight years, left eight external loans with an outstanding N127.4 billion balance as of June 2026, and still owed salary and gratuity arrears to former Water Corporation staff and local government teachers. The statement also disputed Obi's claim of leaving a N2.13 billion balance in a First Bank ecological fund account, saying the cited account is an ordinary revenue account that never held such a sum, and challenged him to explain the discrepancy.	2027 ELECTIONS; PETER OBI; ANAMBRA	GUARDIAN
GUARDIAN	16TH SEPTEMBER 2026	2027: Obidients Seek Clarity Over INEC Chairman's Handover	The Obidient Movement asked INEC to explain why National Commissioner Rhoda Gumus, rather than Chairman Prof Joash Amupitan, received an African Union pre-election assessment delegation in Abuja, saying there was no official communication of any handover. National Coordinator Yunusa Tanko demanded details of Amupitan's whereabouts, schedule and any meetings with President Tinubu or APC officials, and raised concerns about the chairman's alleged political associations, while INEC's website continues to list Amupitan as chairman and the commission had not responded to the queries at the time of the report.	2027 ELECTIONS; INEC; OBIDIENT MOVEMENT	GUARDIAN
PUNCH	16TH SEPTEMBER 2026	Tinubu Forgave Northern Govs Who Opposed Him In 2023, Says Shettima	Vice President Kashim Shettima, speaking in Ilorin at the turbaning of Kwara Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq as Sardauna of Ilorin Emirate, said President Tinubu forgave the northern governors who failed to back his 2023 presidential bid, noting only six of the North's 19 states had supported him at the time despite the "Baba bayan sunshi" narrative suggesting former President Buhari opposed his succession. Shettima urged Kwara politicians, amid unrest within the APC following its governorship primary, to embrace the same spirit of reconciliation, describing public office as temporary and urging leaders to serve with humility.	2027 ELECTIONS; SHETTIMA; KWARA	PUNCH
VANGUARD	16TH SEPTEMBER 2026	ABIA: PDP Candidate Promises N90,000 Minimum Wage, Vows To Recall 15,000 Sacked Workers	PDP governorship candidate Kelechi Anosike pledged to pay a N90,000 state minimum wage, above the N70,000 national benchmark, and to recall 15,000 workers he said were sacked before retirement age if elected in Abia State. Speaking on Arise TV's The Morning Show, Anosike outlined a "welfarist" manifesto including clearing all salary, pension and gratuity arrears within 100 days, cutting excessive multiple taxation on small traders, setting up a traders' microfinance bank in Aba, and an "Operation Feed Abia" back-to-farm policy to improve food security.	2027 ELECTIONS; ABIA; PDP	VANGUARD
VANGUARD	16TH SEPTEMBER 2026	2027: Court Gives Atiku 7 Days To Serve Suit Challenging Tinubu's Eligibility On APC	A Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice Inyang Ekwo, approved substituted service on President Tinubu through the APC within seven days, in a suit by ADC presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar seeking to disqualify Tinubu from the 2027 election over an NYSC discharge certificate Atiku alleges was forged and bears a different name. Two senior lawyers, Akin Olujinmi and Wole Olanipekun, have separately filed processes for Tinubu challenging the suit's competence and Atiku's standing, arguing it is statute-barred, while full hearing is scheduled for September 28.	2027 ELECTIONS; ATIKU; COURT CASE	VANGUARD
PREMIUM TIMES	16TH SEPTEMBER 2026	'I'll Stop Campaigning If You Prove I Left Debt,' Peter Obi Challenges Soludo	NDC presidential candidate Peter Obi vowed on Facebook to end his 2027 campaign if Governor Soludo's administration could prove he left debts in Anambra, after Finance Commissioner Izuchukwu Okafor alleged Obi's government still owed a N2.1 billion ecological fund and other liabilities. Obi said he liquidated over N35 billion in historical gratuity arrears, left no outstanding salary, pension or contractor debts, and kept the N2.13 billion ecological fund intact in a First Bank account for his successor rather than spend it, challenging Soludo's government to disprove his account or he would end his presidential bid.	2027 ELECTIONS; PETER OBI; ANAMBRA	PREMIUM TIMES
VANGUARD	16TH SEPTEMBER 2026	South Africa Faults US Over New Visa Restrictions	South Africa's Foreign Ministry criticised the United States over new visa restrictions imposed on some South African nationals, announced a day earlier by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, saying the move appeared based on a mischaracterisation of South Africa's domestic policies by fringe groups. Pretoria said differences between the two countries should be resolved through diplomatic engagement between state actors rather than unilateral measures, amid wider tensions between the two governments over South Africa's domestic policies and international positions.	SOUTH AFRICA; UNITED STATES; VISA RESTRICTIONS	VANGUARD
VANGUARD	16TH SEPTEMBER 2026	Tshisekedi Third-Term Proposal Sparks Protests In DRC	Dozens of people were arrested in the Democratic Republic of Congo after protests broke out in Kinshasa and other major cities against a proposed constitutional amendment that could let President Felix Tshisekedi seek a third term beyond his current term's 2028 expiry; police fired tear gas and warning shots to disperse demonstrators organised by opposition coalition Article 64 (C64). Tshisekedi said last month he would serve a third term "if the people wish it," and C64 leader Martin Fayulu said the opposition was considering an international complaint over alleged violence against activists, after the DRC Senate passed a referendum bill in June.	DR CONGO; TSHISEKEDI; PROTESTS	VANGUARD
GUARDIAN	16TH SEPTEMBER 2026	Applicants Sink Into Debt As UK Government Makes £5bn Annually From Immigration Fees	A joint investigation by The Bureau of Investigative Journalism and The Guardian Nigeria finds the UK Home Office nets almost £5 billion a year in profit from visa, citizenship and immigration charges, more than it collects in corporation tax from the energy, water and hospitality sectors combined, pushing many applicants, including Nigerians on the "Japa" trail, deep into debt. Case studies include a British-Tunisian couple who spent nearly a year saving for a partner visa, a Zimbabwean family who took a loan to cover a settlement bill exceeding £15,000, and a disabled man's family wrongly refused a fee waiver. The Home Office denies profiteering, saying the fees fund the wider migration and borders system, while several Labour ministers who once criticised the charges declined to comment for the story.	UK IMMIGRATION; JAPA	GUARDIAN
DAILY TRUST	16TH SEPTEMBER 2026	Troops Neutralise 1,106 Terrorists In Borno	Outgoing Operation Hadin Kai Theatre Commander, Major General Abdulsalam Abubakar, said troops neutralised 1,106 Boko Haram/ISWAP fighters and intercepted over N300 million in illicit funds from their financiers during his tenure, in a farewell address at Maimalari Cantonment, Maiduguri. He said 758 logistics collaborators were arrested, more than 475 weapons and 24,409 rounds of ammunition recovered, and 295 IEDs safely detonated, while sustained military pressure combined with non-kinetic engagement led to the surrender of over 969 fighters and family members and the rescue of 638 civilians, including all 46 students targeted in an attempted abduction at a girls' college in Monguno.	SECURITY; BOKO HARAM; BORNO	DAILY TRUST
DAILY TRUST	16TH SEPTEMBER 2026	Six SDP Supporters Die In Nasarawa Road Crash	Six supporters of the SDP's Nasarawa governorship candidate and former Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar Adamu, died in a road accident on the Lafia flyover on Monday while travelling to a political event in Awe Local Government Area, with several others injured, the campaign's media director Otaru Douglas confirmed. Adamu's wife led a delegation to condole with the bereaved families, and both the state government and the Nasarawa APC issued condolences, urging political campaigners and motorists to exercise caution on the roads during the campaign season.	ROAD ACCIDENT; SDP; NASARAWA	DAILY TRUST
GUARDIAN	16TH SEPTEMBER 2026	2027: Rainbow Coalition Splits Tinubu's Camp As APC Govs Push Back	The APC's Progressive Governors' Forum, chaired by Imo Governor Hope Uzodimma, has distanced itself from FCT Minister Nyesom Wike's Rainbow Coalition, warning it could produce split-ticket voting that weakens APC candidates even while aiding President Tinubu's re-election. Wike insists his support for Tinubu is "sacrosanct" but that the coalition is separate from the APC and does not stop the PDP fielding candidates elsewhere. APC National Chairman Nentawe Yilwatda's office voiced concern the rift could divide the party, particularly in Kwara, Rivers and Cross River states, while the PDP backed Wike's right to mobilise support and accused APC governors of fearing electoral scrutiny. A civil rights group, Intersociety, separately accused six APC governors of political intolerance ahead of 2027.	2027 ELECTIONS; RAINBOW COALITION; APC	GUARDIAN
PREMIUM TIMES	16TH SEPTEMBER 2026	2027: PDP Backs Wike's Rainbow Coalition For Tinubu's Re-Election, Says APC Governors Underperformed	The PDP said there is nothing wrong with FCT Minister Nyesom Wike remaining in the party while mobilising support for President Tinubu's re-election through the Rainbow Coalition. National Publicity Secretary Jungudo Mohammed said Wike has a constitutional right to back any candidate, and accused APC governors, led by Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma, of opposing the coalition out of fear that their poor performance in office will be exposed at the 2027 polls. The party said the governors' demand that Wike stop supporting candidates capable of beating them is a political miscalculation, insisted the PDP has stabilised and can field strong candidates against them, and described Wike as an asset rather than a liability to Tinubu's re-election project.	2027 ELECTIONS; RAINBOW COALITION; PDP	PREMIUM TIMES
GUARDIAN	16TH SEPTEMBER 2026	2027: Obi Challenges Fellow Presidential Candidates To Academic Records Scrutiny	NDC presidential candidate Peter Obi says he has no objection to the release of his academic records from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and other institutions he attended, and has challenged other 2027 presidential candidates to submit to the same scrutiny, arguing transparency should build public trust rather than be treated as an attack. The statement came as Obi also rejected Anambra State government claims that his 2006-2014 administration left behind unpaid debts, including a N2 billion ecological loan and contractor liabilities, saying he cleared more than N35 billion in historical gratuities and arrears and left office owing nothing.	2027 ELECTIONS; PETER OBI; ACADEMIC RECORDS	GUARDIAN
GUARDIAN	16TH SEPTEMBER 2026	ADC Warns Tinubu As Petrol Price Hits N1,470 Per Litre	The ADC warned President Tinubu over rising petrol prices, which have reached N1,470 per litre in some locations after NNPCL again raised pump prices at its Abuja-area outlets to between N1,395 and N1,430 per litre, saying the increases are worsening the cost of transport, food, electricity and school fees. Presidential aide Sunday Asefon attributed the hikes mainly to global geopolitical tensions, including the US-Iran-Israel conflict and disruption risks to the Strait of Hormuz, rather than subsidy removal alone, while the ADC accused the administration of turning the petrol pump into "an instrument of punishment" for Nigerians.	PETROL PRICES; ADC; ECONOMY	GUARDIAN
PREMIUM TIMES	15TH SEPTEMBER 2026	2027: Power-sharing, Candidate-substitution Disputes Threaten ADC's Chances In Jigawa	The opposition ADC in Jigawa State is battling internal crisis ahead of 2027, with governorship candidate Sabo Nakudu publicly disclaiming a purported 60:40 power-sharing deal with party chieftain Bashir Jumbo, who lost the governorship primary to him and alleges the contest was rigged. Nakudu's camp has also been accused of not campaigning for ADC presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar. Separately, party headquarters has substituted several primary winners, including Nakudu's own deputy governorship pick and a House of Representatives candidate, Zakari Alhaji-Sidi; the state ADC chairman said about eight candidates who won legislative primaries were replaced for unclear reasons, and the complaints have been forwarded to national headquarters awaiting a response.	2027 ELECTIONS; ADC; JIGAWA	PREMIUM TIMES
PREMIUM TIMES	15TH SEPTEMBER 2026	Bandits Kill Two Police Officers In Benue Ambush	Two newly deployed Mobile Police officers were killed on 14 September when gunmen ambushed the convoy of the Divisional Police Officer of Ayilamo, Logo Local Government Area, as he returned from Makurdi, police spokesperson Peter Aondongu confirmed. This brings to six the number of officers killed in Ayilamo within four days, after four policemen and seven civilians died in an earlier attack on the community on 10 September. Residents blame armed herders operating from nearby forests, and the Benue Police Command separately presented insurance cheques to the families of officers earlier killed in the line of duty.	SECURITY; BANDITRY; BENUE	PREMIUM TIMES
PREMIUM TIMES	15TH SEPTEMBER 2026	Police Arrest Kidnap Suspects While Collecting N1.5m Ransom In Ondo, Rescue Victims	The Ondo State Police Command, working with Amotekun and Agbe-Koya, rescued two kidnap victims and recovered N1.5 million in ransom money after ambushing kidnappers as they emerged from a forest along the Ifira-Idoani axis on 11 September, spokesperson Abayomi Jimoh said. A follow-up operation on 13 September led to the arrest of three suspects, two of whom had gunshot wounds sustained during the earlier encounter; the case has been transferred to the Special Anti-Kidnapping Squad in Akure to uncover the wider criminal network.	SECURITY; KIDNAPPING; ONDO	PREMIUM TIMES
PUNCH	15TH SEPTEMBER 2026	2027: My Support Is For Tinubu, Rainbow Coalition, Not APC — Wike	FCT Minister Nyesom Wike reiterated that his backing is for President Tinubu's re-election and the cross-party Rainbow Coalition, not the APC, and said he never promised the PDP would not field candidates for governorship, National Assembly or state Houses of Assembly. Responding to APC governors, he questioned how the APC won Senate seats in Imo State and National Assembly seats in Ebonyi, Abia and Enugu in 2023 despite Tinubu polling poorly in those states, asking whether a "rainbow coalition" explained those wins, and argued that voters splitting their support across parties is normal rather than a sign of confusion.	2027 ELECTIONS; RAINBOW COALITION; WIKE	PUNCH
PUNCH	15TH SEPTEMBER 2026	APC Denies Link To Violence In Enugu, Demands Probe	The Enugu State APC, through publicity secretary Uche Obute, denied sponsoring political violence in Nkanu West Local Government Area after gunmen disrupted an NDC grassroots meeting at Obuoffia Ward, leaving several NDC members with gunshot injuries, while a separate PDP rally at a primary school in Agbani was also affected. The APC called the allegations misleading and politically motivated, reaffirmed its support for Governor Peter Mbah's administration, and urged a thorough investigation; police spokesperson SP Daniel Ndukwe confirmed armed hoodlums carried out the shootings and said a probe was under way to identify and arrest the perpetrators.	POLITICAL VIOLENCE; APC; ENUGU	PUNCH
VANGUARD	15TH SEPTEMBER 2026	'I Am The Hoax Buster' - Trump Rejects AI Danger Warnings	US President Donald Trump dismissed fears that artificial intelligence could destroy humanity as a hoax, comparing the warnings to past claims about climate change and the Russia investigations, and said the only guardrail AI needed was a strong president. The remarks, made in a series of Truth Social posts, come amid mounting global alarm after Anthropic's Dario Amodei, OpenAI's Sam Altman and others called for AI firms to slow down, and after Microsoft published a "humanist AI code of conduct." Trump also criticised Amodei personally and defended AI data centres in a call with Nvidia's Jensen Huang, even as China's spy chief and the UN human rights chief separately warned of the technology's dangers.	ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE; US POLITICS	VANGUARD
CHANNELS TV	15TH SEPTEMBER 2026	INEC, AU Election Monitoring Delegates Meet In Abuja Ahead Of 2027	INEC's leadership met an African Union election-monitoring delegation, led by former Ethiopian foreign minister Demeke Mekonnen, at the Commission's Abuja headquarters to discuss preparations for the 2027 general election, including the application of technology, logistics arrangements and security. The delegation said it hopes to learn lessons from the 2023 election and INEC's strategies for results management, inclusivity and building voter trust ahead of 2027. National Commissioner Rhoda Gumus represented the INEC chairman at the meeting.	2027 ELECTIONS; INEC; AFRICAN UNION	CHANNELS TV
VANGUARD	15TH SEPTEMBER 2026	Police Rescue Two Abducted Victims, Neutralise Three Suspected Kidnappers In Niger	The Niger State Police Command rescued two people abducted from Wako village and neutralised three suspected kidnappers during a gun battle in the Wawa forest near New-Bussa, spokesperson SP Wasiu Abiodun said. The victims were seized on 10 September and a ransom was being demanded before a surveillance team and vigilante volunteers intercepted the kidnappers; other suspects escaped the forest with bullet injuries.	SECURITY; KIDNAPPING; NIGER STATE	VANGUARD
VANGUARD	15TH SEPTEMBER 2026	Obi: I Paid All Debts Due Before Leaving Office	NDC presidential candidate Peter Obi rejected claims by Anambra State's Commissioner for Finance, Izuchukwu Okafor, that his administration (2006-2014) left unpaid loans for the Soludo government to service, insisting he settled all salaries, pensions, gratuities and contractor obligations before leaving office and left a N2.1 billion ecological fund untouched for a specific erosion project rather than spending it. He challenged anyone disputing his record to check the bank account details he offered to provide. Obi also said state governors, including Anambra's Soludo, were free to support President Tinubu's re-election, but insisted the 2027 election must be free, fair and credible and left to voters to decide.	2027 ELECTIONS; PETER OBI; ANAMBRA	VANGUARD
VANGUARD	11TH SEPTEMBER 2026	National Assembly Suspends Legislative Engagements With South Africa Over Xenophobic Attacks	Nigeria’s National Assembly has suspended all official visits to South Africa and will boycott South African-hosted legislative activities over continued reports of xenophobic attacks against Nigerians and other African nationals. The boycott covers lawmakers, committees and staff, including physical and virtual conferences, seminars and parliamentary engagements. The Assembly called on South African authorities to protect Nigerians, investigate attacks and prosecute perpetrators.	XENOPHOBIA	VANGUARD
DAILY TRUST	11TH SEPTEMBER 2026	“You Cannot Allow Democracy to Be Funded by Moneybags” – NDC to Raise 2027 Campaign Funds From Ordinary Nigerians	The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) says it plans to adopt a grassroots fundraising model for its 2027 election campaign, allowing ordinary Nigerians to contribute as little as N1,000 or N2,000. National leader and Bayelsa West Senator Seriake Dickson said the approach is intended to reduce the influence of wealthy individuals, billionaires and political financiers who traditionally fund campaigns, while giving ordinary citizens a direct stake in the party’s electoral efforts. Dickson argued that allowing political financing to be dominated by wealthy individuals, particularly those with access to public resources, can weaken democratic participation and leave ordinary Nigerians at a disadvantage. He said the NDC wants to mobilise a broad base of small contributors rather than depend on a few major donors, claiming that the party is not funded from the government treasury. He also disclosed that the NDC is still consulting on the composition of its presidential campaign council, which will be announced after the consultations are concluded. The party, he said, wants to avoid prematurely publishing a list and subsequently withdrawing or changing it. On the 2027 elections, Dickson called on INEC, security agencies and other electoral institutions to ensure a free and fair process. He said the NDC would take its campaign directly to Nigerians and would fight for every vote rather than take any support for granted.	NDC; 2027 GENERAL ELECTIONS	DAILY TRUST
DAILY TRUST	11TH SEPTEMBER 2026	2027: Kwankwaso Urges Atiku to Withdraw From Presidential Race as Obi Reopens Coalition Talks	NDC presidential candidate Peter Obi has expressed openness to renewed opposition coalition talks, stressing that any alliance should be negotiated between political parties rather than individual presidential candidates. He also denied reports that he rejected a vice-presidential offer from Atiku Abubakar, saying no such offer was formally made. Meanwhile, NDC vice-presidential candidate Rabiu Kwankwaso urged Atiku Abubakar to withdraw from the 2027 presidential race, citing his age and health. Obi also criticised the Tinubu administration over subsidy-removal savings, rising debt, spending priorities and insecurity, while outlining his proposals on production-focused subsidies, state police and other reforms.	NDC; 2027 GENERAL ELECTIONS; PETER OBI	DAILY TRUST
CHANNELS TV	11TH SEPTEMBER 2026	PFIPC Scandal: Court Defers Adeyemi’s Fundamental Rights Suit Over Service Dispute	Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court in Abuja has returned Adeniyi Adeyemi’s fundamental rights case to the court registry for reassignment, after finding that the respondents still had time to respond to the court’s order to show cause. Adeyemi, who is detained over allegations of forgery, fraud and impersonation relating to his claim to be Director-General of the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC), had asked the court for six reliefs, including his release, bail, medical access and protection from police interrogation without his lawyer present. The court had earlier granted him access to lawyers of his choice but declined to grant the other reliefs without first hearing from the respondents. At Thursday’s proceedings, Adeyemi’s lawyer said the respondents had been served and was ready to proceed. However, the judge noted that the respondents were served with the relevant order on September 8, meaning the 72-hour response period had not yet expired. He also questioned whether the proof of service for the hearing notice had been properly sworn before a commissioner for oaths. The case was therefore returned to the registry, with Adeyemi directed to return when the respondents’ response period has expired and the matter is ready for hearing.	PFIPC SCANDAL	CHANNELS TV
PREMIUM TIMES	11TH SEPTEMBER 2026	Kaduna: Uba Sani Makes 88 Appointments to Accelerate Development Agenda	Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani has appointed three new commissioners, 45 aides and 40 members of various boards, as part of efforts to accelerate his administration’s development agenda and strengthen institutional reforms. The new commissioners are Ben Kure, Managing Director of Kaduna State Media Corporation, appointed Commissioner for Sports Development; Amina Akilu Dalhat, Commissioner for Special Duties I; and Abdullahi Garba Abbas, Commissioner for Special Duties II. Dr Haliru Soba, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, was also appointed Deputy Chief of Staff, Administration. The governor also appointed chairmen and members to several key boards, including the Kaduna State Health Care Board, Kaduna Vigilance Service Board, College of Education Gidan Waya, Institute of Vocational Training and Skills Development, Kaduna Hospital Supply Management Agency and Kaduna Rural Access Roads Authority. Sani said the appointees were selected based on their track records, integrity and dedication, and tasked them with bringing fresh perspectives, improving public service delivery and aligning their work with his administration’s vision for Kaduna State.	KAUDNA STATE; GOVERNOR UBA SANI	PREMIUM TIMES
THE GUARDIAN	11TH SEPTEMBER 2026	2027: ADC Crisis Deepens Over Adamawa Governorship Ticket as Suleiman Challenges Alleged Substitution	A dispute has deepened within the African Democratic Congress (ADC) over its Adamawa governorship ticket, pitting former Vice President Atiku Abubakar against former SGF Babachir Lawal. The controversy centres on an alleged move to replace Omar Suleiman, who says he won the party’s governorship primary, with Tukur Modibbo, who reportedly came second. Suleiman has taken the matter to the Federal High Court, seeking to stop any substitution. Lawal and Adamawa ADC stakeholders have opposed the reported move, while Atiku has denied involvement. The dispute has also raised concerns over internal democracy, alleged ethnic considerations and the ADC’s ability to manage internal divisions ahead of 2027.	ADC CRISIS	THE GUARDIAN
VANGUARD	11TH SEPTEMBER 2026	2027 Elections: IGP Assures Nigerians of Secure Polls Despite Rising Insecurity	Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Disu has assured Nigerians that the 2027 general elections will be safe and secure despite persistent insecurity, including jihadist insurgency, banditry, kidnapping and election-related violence. He said the police are training personnel and working with the military to secure polling across the country, including conflict-affected northern areas. Disu also backed state police, saying the federal force would retain oversight, while announcing plans to increase police personnel from just under 300,000 to about 350,000 and expand the use of drones and AI for security operations.	IGP OLATUNJI DISU; 2027 GENERAL ELECTIONS	VANGUARD
ARISE NEWS	11TH SEPTEMBER 2026	Midterm Elections: Trump Faces Criticism Over Proposed $5,000 Payments Tied to Republican Control of Congress, Critics Allege Vote-Buying	US President Donald Trump has proposed a $5,000 “Trump dividend” for American citizens if Republicans retain control of Congress in the November midterm elections, directly linking the proposed payment to the party’s electoral performance. The proposal has sparked criticism over its legality, cost and potential impact on the US deficit and inflation. Economists estimate that paying $5,000 to roughly 240 million adult Americans could cost about $1.2 trillion, raising questions about how the government would finance it at a time when US national debt has surpassed $40 trillion. Republican Congressman Chip Roy questioned where the money would come from, while fiscal analysts warned that borrowing to fund the payments could increase deficits and inflation. Trump's proposal has also attracted political criticism from Democrats, with California Governor Gavin Newsom accusing him of trying to “buy” votes with taxpayer money. Within the Republican Party, Vice-President JD Vance suggested the payment could potentially be means-tested, while Senator Bernie Moreno backed the proposal and said he would introduce legislation to establish it. The proposal is also being questioned as a “dividend”, since the government is running large deficits rather than distributing a surplus. Tariff revenue is unlikely to cover the cost quickly: estimates put 2026 tariff and excise-tax collections at about $210 billion as of September 8, meaning several years of such revenue would be required to finance a $5,000 payment to every adult. Importantly, no payment has been approved. The proposal would require legislation, leaving its funding, eligibility and implementation unresolved as Republicans campaign to retain control of Congress.	U.S; PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP; MIDTERM ELECTIONS	ARISE NEWS
CHANNELS TV	11TH SEPTEMBER 2026	Ecuador Court Sentences Ex-President Bucaram, Son to Over 9 Years in COVID-19 Corruption Case	Ecuador’s judiciary has sentenced former President Abdala Bucaram and his son, Jacobo, to nine years and four months in prison for their roles as collaborators in organised criminal activity linked to the illegal sale of medical supplies, including COVID-19 test kits, during the pandemic. The case took six years to reach trial. Prosecutors said two other individuals identified as the main perpetrators received 13 years and four months each. One person implicated in the case was later murdered in prison in August 2020. Bucaram, who was removed from office in 1997 after just six months and later spent two decades in exile in Panama, attended Wednesday’s ruling remotely from a clinic in Guayaquil, where he was receiving treatment for heart problems. The case had previously been dismissed in 2021, but proceedings resumed after prosecutors appealed.	ECUADOR; JUDICIARY; COVID 19; CORRUPTION	CHANNELS TV
ARISE NEWS	11TH SEPTEMBER 2026	Gambia: Prolonged Blackouts Trigger Violent Protests, Calls Grow for President Barrow’s Resignation	Protests in The Gambia have turned violent following months of persistent power outages that have disrupted essential services and heightened public frustration. The demonstrations were triggered by prolonged electricity shortages, which have affected access to basic services, including water supplies, particularly during the country’s hot season. Angry protesters have taken to the streets, demanding an end to the worsening power crisis and calling on President Adama Barrow to resign. The unrest highlights growing public dissatisfaction with the government’s handling of the country’s electricity supply, as residents continue to grapple with frequent and prolonged blackouts.	GAMBIA; BLACK OUTS; RESIGNATION	ARISE NEWS
PREMIUM TIMES	11TH SEPTEMBER 2026	‘Munhumutapa Day’: Zimbabwe Declares President Mnangagwa’s Birthday Annual Public Holiday	Zimbabwe has declared 15 September an annual public holiday, named Munhumutapa Day, to commemorate the country’s pre-colonial heritage. The date coincides with President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s 84th birthday. The declaration comes amid renewed controversy over his political future, after he suggested he would “still be around” beyond 2030 despite his current term being due to end in 2030.	ZIMBABWE	PREMIUM TIMES
PREMIUM TIMES	10TH SEPTEMBER 2026	Police Arrest 46 Suspects Over Alleged Involvement in Obstruction of Peter Obi’s Convoy in Benue State	Police in Benue State have arrested 46 people allegedly involved in obstructing the convoy of Peter Obi, the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, during his visit to Makurdi on Tuesday. The Commissioner of Police, Cletus Nwadiogbu, said the convoy was blocked by a group carrying sticks, creating a situation that could have escalated into violence. The police said they avoided using force to prevent possible loss of lives and property, but immediately launched an intelligence-led investigation. Obi was eventually escorted safely to the airport. The Benue State Government denied involvement in the incident, while Amnesty International called for an investigation. The police warned that such actions would not be tolerated as the country approaches the 2027 elections, and said those found culpable would be prosecuted.	PETER OBI; BENUE STATE	PREMIUM TIMES
CHANNELS TV	10TH SEPTEMBER 2026	Akpabio Petitions DSS Over Alleged Anti-North Statement	Senate President Godswill Akpabio has petitioned the DSS over a purported anti-North statement circulating online and attributed to him. Akpabio, through his Chief of Staff, said he never made the statement and described the graphic as false, inflammatory and deliberately designed to provoke regional resentment. The petition asked the DSS to investigate the origin and coordinated distribution of the graphic, including individuals identified as some of its early amplifiers. Akpabio stressed that those named should not be presumed guilty, but could provide information on the source, sponsors and distribution network. The development comes as political activities intensify ahead of the 2027 general elections.	SENATE PRESIDENT; ANTI-NORTH STATEMENT	CHANNELS TV
DAILY TRUST	10TH SEPTEMBER 2026	2027 Elections: Candidates Flag Off Campaigns as State Campaigns Begin	With governorship and House of Assembly campaigns officially commencing on Wednesday, four governorship candidates across Kebbi, Adamawa, Rivers and Ogun states flagged off their campaigns. In Kebbi, ADC candidate Abubakar Malami criticised the APC-led government over insecurity, budget management and the prolonged closure of schools. In Adamawa, APC candidate Tijjani Ahmad Galadima pledged to build on Governor Ahmadu Fintiri’s achievements while shifting the state’s economy away from dependence on federal allocations. In Ogun, PDP candidate Oladipupo Adebutu unveiled his seven-point ITURA DE agenda, focused on security, local government autonomy, workers’ welfare, economic development, education and healthcare. In Rivers, APC candidate Kingsley Chinda, an ally of Nyesom Wike, formally commenced his campaign and pledged to serve the state if elected.	2027 GENERAL ELECTIONS	DAILY TRUST
DAILY TRUST	10TH SEPTEMBER 2026	Sokoto: Police Engage Political Parties, LG Chairmen Ahead of 2027 Elections	The Sokoto State Police Command has engaged political party leaders and elected local government chairmen on security preparations ahead of the 2027 political campaigns and elections. Commissioner of Police Hayatu Shaffa urged political actors to conduct peaceful campaigns, follow electoral rules and prevent supporters from engaging in violence, intimidation or activities that could heighten tensions. The police also called on local government chairmen to support security agencies through community engagement, intelligence gathering and identifying individuals linked to criminal activities. Political parties and local government leaders pledged to cooperate with the police and support efforts to maintain peace before, during and after the elections.	SOKOTO STATE; 2027 GENERAL ELECTIONS
DAILY TRUST	10TH SEPTEMBER 2026	2027: Northwest ADC Governorship Candidates Sign Development Compact, Accuse APC Governors of Failure	Ahead of the 2027 general elections, ADC governorship candidates across the seven North-West states have signed a development compact, criticising the APC-led governments in the region over insecurity, poverty, unemployment, poor infrastructure and inadequate social services. Speaking on behalf of the candidates, former Attorney General of the Federation Abubakar Malami said the Northwest ADC Governorship Candidates’ Compact 2027–2031 is aimed at reforming governance and ensuring public resources translate into measurable improvements in citizens’ lives. The candidates cited insecurity, displacement, abandoned farmlands and high out-of-school rates as major challenges facing the region. They also pledged to promote accountable governance and support ADC presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar’s promise to reverse fuel subsidy removal.	NORTH-WEST; ADC; APC	DAILY TRUST
ARISE NEWS	10TH SEPTEMBER 2026	South-South PDP Calls for National Burial and Immortalisation of Late Zonal Chairman Dan Orbih	The PDP South-South Zonal Working Committee has called on the party’s national leadership to immortalise its late zonal chairman, Chief Dan Osi Orbih, in recognition of his contributions to the growth, stability and survival of the party. The committee also urged the PDP to accord him a befitting national burial, noting that he died while still actively serving the party. The resolutions were reached at an emergency meeting attended by eight of the 10 members of the zonal committee. The committee commended PDP leaders, including Nyesom Wike, the National Working Committee, NEC and Board of Trustees, as well as party stakeholders and Nigerians, for their support and condolences following Orbih’s death. The zonal leadership also constituted a burial committee to coordinate the funeral arrangements and ensure the participation of party leaders and stakeholders. Chief Lesi Maol was appointed chairman, with High Chief George Turnah as co-chairman and Hillary Otsu as secretary.	PDP	ARISE NEWS
ARISE NEWS	10TH SEPTEMBER 2026	Katsina State House of Assembly Endorse Governor Radda for Second Term	The Katsina State House of Assembly has endorsed Governor Dikko Umaru Radda for a second term and pledged to support his re-election bid in the 2027 governorship election. The endorsement was announced by Speaker Nasir Yahaya Daura during the presentation of the N828.64 billion 2027 Appropriation Bill by Governor Radda. The Speaker commended the administration’s performance in infrastructure, education, healthcare, agriculture, security and human capital development, and pledged that lawmakers would give the proposed budget speedy consideration. He also reaffirmed the Assembly’s support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and other APC candidates in the 2027 elections. Daura described the budget as the final one of Radda’s first tenure and the last to be presented before the expiration of the 8th Assembly. He also noted that the Assembly had passed more than 50 bills and carried out several oversight functions during its tenure.	KATSINA STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY	ARISE NEWS
ARISE NEWS	10TH SEPTEMBER 2026	Ogun 2027: Hunye Accuses APC of Imposing Candidate, Violating Due Process	Abayomi Semako Hunye, an APC governorship aspirant and former Osun State commissioner, has accused the party of imposing a governorship candidate and disregarding its internal procedures in the lead-up to the 2026 Ogun State governorship election. Hunye, who is challenging the party’s governorship process at the Federal High Court, said he was not invited to any meeting where the alleged consensus or arrangement was reached and maintained that the court would ultimately determine who emerges as the party’s candidate. The dispute centres on Senator Olamilekan Solomon Adeola (Yayi), whom Hunye referred to as the party’s preferred candidate. Hunye also challenged his reported suspension from the APC, saying he was never formally notified of the allegations against him or given an opportunity to respond before the suspension. He said he obtained his nomination form on April 28, attended the party’s screening on May 11 and was cleared to contest, questioning how he could have been treated as an aspirant if he had already been suspended. He said his legal action was about fairness and adherence to due process, rather than simply losing the contest. Hunye also alleged that he and his supporters faced harassment during the dispute and defended his campaign posters, acknowledging that they could have stated that he was contesting while the matter remained before the court. He maintained that he would continue his political activities, including campaigning for President Bola Tinubu, while allowing the court to determine the outcome of the governorship dispute.	OGUN 2027; GENERAL ELECTIONS	ARISE NEWS
REUTERS	10TH SEPTEMBER 2026	US-Iran War: Trump Says Conflict Could Continue Until After 2026 Midterm Elections	US President Donald Trump has said he expects the six-month-old war with Iran to end after the November 2026 US midterm elections, while warning that the United States could launch another strike on Iran’s Pickaxe Mountain, a heavily fortified site linked to the country’s nuclear programme. The comments came as the conflict intensified, with Iran saying it attacked 10 ships near the Strait of Hormuz after the US sank five Iranian oil tankers. Shipping through the strategic waterway has fallen sharply, while Brent crude remained above $100 a barrel as disruptions also affected the Red Sea. Tensions have also spread to Saudi Arabia, where the Iran-backed Houthis have intensified attacks. Saudi authorities issued multiple emergency alerts in Khamis Mushait, while the Saudi-led coalition said at least 73 people were wounded in recent Houthi attacks across four southern cities. Trump also accused Tehran of trying to influence the US midterm elections, which will determine whether Republicans retain control of Congress.	U.S-IRAN CONFLICT	REUTERS
DAILY TRUST	9TH SEPTEMBER 2026	2027: Governorship and State Houses of Assembly Campaigns Begin Today	Official campaigns for the 2027 governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections have commenced across the 28 states where governorship elections will be held, following INEC’s timetable. Candidates can now formally take their campaigns to voters through rallies, media engagements, town halls and other platforms. The development comes three weeks after presidential and National Assembly campaigns began on August 19. Major parties, including the APC, NDC and ADC, have fielded governorship candidates across the 28 states. However, despite the opening of the campaign window, several major parties are yet to fully activate their campaign structures. The APC has announced its national campaign council but is yet to inaugurate it amid internal complaints over the inclusion of some members. Opposition parties including the NDC, ADC and PDP are also yet to inaugurate their central or state-level campaign committees. Political analysts attribute the delays to post-primary tensions, funding challenges and negotiations over strategic alliances ahead of the elections. With the campaign window now open, increased political activity and grassroots mobilisation are expected as parties finalise their structures and begin making their case directly to voters.	CAMPAIGNS; 2027 GENERAL ELECTIONS	DAILY TRUST
PUNCH	9TH SEPTEMBER 2026	2027: SDP Unveils Presidential Manifesto, Challenges Tinubu to Public Debate	SDP presidential candidate Adewole Adebayo has challenged President Bola Tinubu to a public debate ahead of the 2027 presidential election, arguing that Nigerians deserve an opportunity to compare the policies, records and plans of the candidates seeking to lead the country. Adebayo made the call in Abuja while unveiling the SDP’s 2027–2031 manifesto, titled Farewell to Poverty and Insecurity. He identified insecurity as a major priority of his proposed administration and pledged that an SDP government would defeat insecurity within four years if elected. Beyond security, Adebayo outlined several economic and infrastructure proposals, including plans to establish four functional refineries, increase electricity generation to 75,000 megawatts and keep petrol prices at no more than N200 per litre. He argued that Nigerians should not be paying international prices for domestically produced crude and refined petroleum products. The SDP candidate also urged Nigerians to use their votes to bring about a change of government in 2027, saying the ballot would be the primary means of changing how the country is governed. He presented the manifesto as the party’s alternative policy framework for addressing poverty, insecurity, unemployment, energy shortages and rising living costs. The unveiling comes as political parties intensify preparations for the 2027 elections and opposition candidates increasingly begin to distinguish their policy positions from those of the Tinubu administration.	SDP; APC; 2027 GENERAL ELECTIONS	PUNCH
ARISE NEWS	9TH SEPTEMBER 2026	Campaigns: Sowore Accuses Benue State Government of Sponsoring Attack on Peter Obi’s Convoy	AAC presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore has accused the Benue State Government of sponsoring the disruption of Peter Obi’s convoy in Makurdi, alleging that the incident was intended to prevent Obi from entering the city during his campaign visit. Sowore pointed to the reported presence of a special adviser to Governor Hyacinth Alia among the crowd as evidence of possible government involvement. Despite his political differences with Obi, Sowore condemned the incident, saying no candidate should be prevented from campaigning anywhere in Nigeria. He warned that allowing political intimidation to go unchecked ahead of the 2027 elections could escalate into wider political violence and even assassinations, and called on candidates and authorities to condemn and investigate the incident.	OMOYELE SOWORE; BENUE STATE; PETER OBI	ARISE NEWS
THE GUARDIAN	9TH SEPTEMBER 2026	2027 Elections: Rising Threats, Opposition Attacks Put Peace Accord to the Test	Concerns over political violence are growing less than three weeks into the 2027 election campaign, with reported threats, intimidation and disruptions of opposition activities in Benue, Ebonyi and Enugu raising fresh questions about the commitment to peaceful electioneering. The developments come shortly after political parties and presidential candidates signed a peace accord on August 18, 2026, under the National Peace Committee chaired by former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar. The accord was intended to secure commitments to peaceful and transparent campaigns ahead of the elections. In Benue State, the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC) accused the APC and the state government of allegedly deploying thugs to disrupt presidential candidate Peter Obi’s visit to Yelwata, where he was scheduled to meet victims of a previous terrorist attack and donate relief materials. The Benue State Government denied involvement, while the state Commissioner of Police confirmed that authorities were aware of Obi’s visit and said youths had opposed his presence. The situation has prompted civil society groups to warn that such incidents could serve as early warning signs of electoral violence. CISLAC and the Transition Monitoring Group called for immediate and impartial intervention by security and electoral authorities, while urging political parties, candidates and their supporters to stop threats, intimidation, harassment and obstruction of opponents. In Ebonyi State, Governor Francis Nwifuru reportedly warned newly elected local government chairmen that they could lose their positions if they failed to deliver their councils to the APC in 2027. The chairman of Ohaukwu LGA subsequently warned opposition elements to stay away from the council area, describing them as “enemies” and declaring them persona non grata. The PDP condemned the remarks as inflammatory and potentially capable of encouraging political violence. Meanwhile, in Enugu State, a PDP ward meeting in Akpugo Ward 3, the political base of the party’s governorship candidate, Uche Nnaji, was reportedly disrupted by gunmen. Party officials said canopies, chairs and other materials were destroyed and attendees fled for safety. Taken together, the incidents are raising concerns that political intimidation and violence could escalate as the 2027 campaign progresses, potentially undermining citizens’ ability to participate freely and parties’ ability to campaign across the country.	PEACE ACCORD; 2027 GENERAL ELECTIONS	THE GUARDIAN
ARISE NEWS	9TH SEPTEMBER 2026	Defections: Kwara APC Crisis Deepens As Senator Ashiru’s Offa Structure Collapses Into PDP Ahead of 2027	Political realignment in Kwara State is intensifying ahead of the 2027 elections, with hundreds of APC members in Offa Local Government Area reportedly defecting to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The latest development involves members of the APC structure in Shawo Central Ward, the political base of Senator Lola Ashiru, who declared their support for the PDP. The defectors, led by Comrade Ezekiel Adepoju, said they were convinced by the leadership of former Senate President Bukola Saraki and viewed the PDP as a better platform for the political future of Offa and Kwara State. The development comes against the backdrop of internal divisions within the Kwara APC following its last governorship primary, which produced the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Yakubu Danladi-Salihu, as the party’s candidate. The crisis reportedly contributed to the formation of the G15 group among APC leaders and subsequent defections, including those of Senator Saliu Mustapha and former APC leader in Patigi, Jiya Kolo, who moved to the PDP and secured its senatorial tickets. The latest defections also extend to Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s political base, where hundreds of APC members reportedly declared support for the PDP. The defectors, led by Taofeek Mohammed, cited dissatisfaction with the APC administration and concerns about the direction of governance in the state. The movement has added to the growing contest for grassroots support in Kwara ahead of 2027, particularly as the opposition PDP seeks to strengthen its structures in areas traditionally associated with the ruling APC.	DEFECTIONS; KWARA STATE; APC; PDP	ARISE NEWS
THE GUARDIAN	9TH SEPTEMBER 2026	2027 Elections: INEC Urges Oba of Lagos to Caution Politicians Against Divisive Campaigns Ahead of Polls	INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, has urged the Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu, to use his influence to discourage politicians from engaging in divisive campaigns ahead of the 2027 general elections. During a courtesy visit to the monarch, Amupitan called for issue-based campaigns and warned against personal attacks, hate speech and inflammatory rhetoric. Amupitan also appealed to traditional institutions to support INEC’s efforts to promote peaceful elections, encourage voter registration and PVC collection, and mobilise citizens to participate actively in the electoral process. He stressed that technology alone cannot guarantee credible and peaceful elections without the cooperation of citizens and traditional rulers. The Oba backed the call for issue-based politics, urging politicians to move away from short-term patronage and focus on genuine capacity building. He also called on INEC officials to remain impartial and urged the Federal Government to provide adequate and timely funding for the 2027 elections.	INEC; 2027 GENERAL ELECTIONS; LAGOS STATE; CAMPAIGNS	THE GUARDIAN
THE GUARDIAN	9TH SEPTEMBER 2026	Ondo: APC Candidates Question Aiyedatiwa’s Commitment Amid Alleged Election Funds Committee	A fresh crisis is emerging within the Ondo State chapter of the APC as National Assembly candidates have raised concerns over an alleged secret committee set up to manage election funds expected from the party’s national headquarters ahead of the 2027 elections. The candidates allege that Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa established the committee to control the funds and fear the money could be diverted to support candidates contesting against them on other party platforms. The alleged committee reportedly includes state commissioners, the governor’s younger brother and other close associates. The governor’s office has denied the existence of the committee, describing the report as a rumour aimed at creating divisions within the party. Aiyedatiwa has also repeatedly denied allegations of anti-party activities, insisting that he has “zero tolerance” for such conduct. The controversy comes amid existing tensions within the Ondo APC following the party’s primaries. Some party members allege that aspirants who lost APC tickets and are now contesting under the PDP and SDP are being backed by the governor through the alleged “Rainbow Coalition.” Aiyedatiwa has denied these allegations.	ONDO STATE; APC	THE GUARDIAN
THE GUARDIAN	9TH SEPTEMBER 2026	Osun Guber: “False and Mischievous” – APC Denies Filing Petition Challenging Adeleke’s Victory	The APC in Osun State has denied reports that its 2026 governorship candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, filed a petition challenging Governor Ademola Adeleke’s victory at the Election Petition Tribunal. The party’s Governorship Campaign Council said neither the APC nor Oyebamiji submitted any petition against the August 15 election outcome, describing reports to the contrary as false and mischievous. The clarification follows a petition reportedly filed by lawyer Oluseyi Oyagbile, who claimed he received instructions from Oyebamiji’s running mate, Kayode Adereti. The APC maintained that the purported petition was being used to mislead the public and create unnecessary tension, insisting that the party and its candidate remain committed to lawful and democratic processes.	OSUN 2026; APC; ACCORD PARTY	THE GUARDIAN
PREMIUM TIMES	9TH SEPTEMBER 2026	Ekiti Guber: PDP Candidate Oluyede Withdraws Petition Challenging Oyebanji’s Re-election	PDP’s candidate in the June 20, 2026 Ekiti governorship election, Wole Oluyede, has withdrawn his petition challenging Governor Biodun Oyebanji’s re-election. The Election Petition Tribunal subsequently struck out the case after Oluyede’s counsel formally moved the withdrawal motion. Oluyede said he withdrew the petition following appeals from what he described as “important people,” including President Bola Tinubu and his advisers, and in the interest of moving Ekiti and Nigeria forward. He also disclosed that Oyebanji had extended a hand of fellowship to him after the election and said he was willing to work with the governor to support Tinubu’s presidential bid. Oyebanji was declared winner with 319,224 votes, while Oluyede polled 40,543. The withdrawal does not end all legal challenges to the election, as the tribunal has fixed September 14 to hear petitions filed by the SDP and Action Alliance candidates challenging Oyebanji’s victory.	EKITI STATE 2026 GOVERNORSHIP ELECTION	PREMIUM TIMES
CHANNELS TV	9TH SEPTEMBER 2026	Kebbi: Governor Nasir Dissolves KEBSIEC Governing Board as Tenure Expires	Kebbi State Governor, Dr. Nasir Idris, has approved the dissolution of the Governing Board of the Kebbi State Independent Electoral Commission (KEBSIEC), effective September 18, 2026, following the expiration of the board’s tenure. The state government said the two commission members whose tenures have not expired will remain in office pending the reconstitution of the commission. Governor Idris thanked the outgoing members for their service and reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to protecting KEBSIEC’s independence and integrity.	KEBBI STATE; KEBSIEC	CHANNELS TV
THE GUARDIAN	8TH SEPTEMBER 2026	2027 Elections: INEC to Deploy Real-Time Readiness Tracker Across 36 States, FCT Ahead of Polls	INEC has intensified preparations for the 2027 General Election, introducing a real-time readiness tracker to monitor the operational preparedness of its state offices. The tool, linked to the Election Monitoring and Support Centre (EMSC), will provide real-time updates on key activities including the distribution of election materials and staff training, helping the commission identify and address operational gaps early. INEC Chairman Prof. Joash Amupitan also directed Administrative Secretaries across the 36 states and the FCT to strengthen coordination, standardise administrative processes and apply lessons from recent off-cycle elections, particularly Osun. The commission further identified voter apathy, declining public trust, misinformation and disinformation as major challenges ahead of 2027. INEC disclosed that the three-phase Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise recorded 10,772,421 new registrants between August 2025 and July 2026, subject to biometric verification.	INEC; 2027 GENERAL ELECTIONS	THE GUARDIAN
THE GUARDIAN	8TH SEPTEMBER 2026	“Unprecedented” Domestic Borrowing: Atiku Accuses Tinubu Government of Reckless Borrowing Despite Oil Revenue Windfall	African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar has criticised the Tinubu administration over what he described as reckless domestic borrowing, arguing that the government is accumulating debt despite crude oil prices rising above the benchmark used for the 2026 budget. He said the Federal Government borrowed ₦24.7 trillion domestically between January and August 2026, a 90.5% increase from the same period in 2025, warning that the borrowing could restrict private-sector access to credit, destroy jobs and worsen the cost-of-living crisis. The development also triggered a debate among opposition figures over their capacity to replace President Bola Tinubu in 2027. Former Labour Party vice-presidential candidate Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed questioned the ability of major opposition figures to improve Nigeria, prompting Peter Obi to defend his record as Anambra governor and outline priorities including reducing the cost of governance, tackling corruption and insecurity, and improving healthcare, education and poverty reduction.	ADC; APC; ATIKU ABUBAKAR	THE GUARDIAN
ARISE NEWS	8TH SEPTEMBER 2026	Ondo: Governor Aiyedatiwa Denies Sponsoring Defections, Declares Zero Tolerance for Anti-Party Activities	Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has declared zero tolerance for anti-party activities within the party ahead of the 2027 general elections, urging party officials across the state to focus on grassroots mobilisation and securing victory for APC candidates. Speaking at a stakeholders’ meeting with the party’s 18 local government and 203 ward chairmen in Akure, Aiyedatiwa denied allegations that he was sponsoring APC members or candidates to defect to the PDP or contest under other parties. He maintained that he had never engaged in anti-party activities and urged members to support President Bola Tinubu and all APC candidates. The governor emphasised the importance of ward-level structures, noting that elections are won at polling units located within the wards. He therefore directed ward chairmen and secretaries to hold regular meetings with party leaders and make grassroots mobilisation the central focus of their preparations for 2027. Aiyedatiwa also cited his political history and past experiences within the progressive political movement to reinforce his commitment to party loyalty and discipline. He urged members to respect decisions reached by party leadership and work collectively towards the party’s electoral success. APC State Chairman Babatunde Kolawole similarly demanded total loyalty to Aiyedatiwa and the party, warning that alleged anti-party activities would attract consequences. He said the party had gathered intelligence on acts of disloyalty and expressed confidence that APC would win the presidential, National Assembly and State House of Assembly elections in 2027.	2027; ONDO STATE; APC	ARISE NEWS
PUNCH	8TH SEPTEMBER 2026	2027: Makinde Rejects Fuel Subsidy, Proposes Cheaper Domestic Crude Pricing for Nigerians	Oyo State Governor and Allied Peoples Movement presidential candidate, Seyi Makinde, has rejected calls to return to the old fuel subsidy regime, instead proposing a domestic crude pricing framework that would make crude supplied to Nigerian refineries cheaper and ultimately reduce petrol prices for consumers. Speaking at the commissioning of the APM presidential campaign office in Abuja, Makinde said his proposal should not be mistaken for a return to subsidy. He argued that since Nigeria produces crude oil, crude supplied to local refineries should not be priced as though it were imported from abroad. According to him, the benefit of Nigeria’s oil resources should be built into the system at the point of domestic crude supply, rather than through government intervention at the petrol pump after other costs and inefficiencies have accumulated. Makinde also called for greater transparency across the petroleum value chain, covering crude production, domestic allocation, refining, transportation, distribution, taxes and retail margins. He said Nigerians should be able to understand how the final petrol price is determined, who receives payments and where inefficiencies are driving up costs. His position comes amid renewed debate over fuel subsidy ahead of the 2027 presidential election. Former Vice-President and presidential hopeful Atiku Abubakar, who campaigned in 2023 on removing subsidy, has now pledged to restore it if elected, arguing that the move would ease the burden of higher fuel prices on Nigerians. Makinde's proposal offers a different approach, reducing the underlying cost of domestic fuel production rather than reinstating a pump-price subsidy. The governor also used the occasion to promote his “Reset Nigeria” agenda, saying the campaign should involve ordinary Nigerians, including traders, farmers, workers, young people and small-business owners. He argued that the country's growing oil wealth must translate into measurable improvements in citizens' lives and called for a government that is more transparent and accountable.	2027 GENERAL ELECTIONS	PUNCH
THE GUARDIAN	8TH SEPTEMBER 2026	Enugu 2027: APC Launches Campaign Strategy, Targets “Top-to-Bottom” Victory	Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah has urged APC candidates contesting the 2027 elections to campaign on the visible achievements and projects of his administration, as the party targets a sweeping victory in the state. He stressed sustained grassroots mobilisation, data-driven campaigning and unity among candidates, warning that personal disagreements should not undermine the party’s collective interests. At a strategic retreat in Enugu, APC leaders also directed candidates to strengthen their digital campaigns, communicate the achievements of both the state and federal governments, and engage voters through town halls, community meetings and other platforms. The party's Deputy National Chairman (South), Benjamin Nwoye, called for “top-to-bottom” voting, while Chief of Staff Victor Udeh urged candidates to return to their constituencies and reconnect with voters after what the party described as inactivity since the primaries.	ENUGU STATE; APC; GOVERNOR PETER MBAH	THE GUARDIAN
THE GUARDIAN	8TH SEPTEMBER 2026	National Security: ONSA Begins National Crisis Simulation to Test Nigeria’s Emergency Readiness With Rapid Response 3 Exercise in Delta State	The Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) has launched Rapid Response 3 (CRE 2026) in Asaba, Delta State, a five-day national crisis-response simulation designed to test Nigeria’s preparedness for complex emergencies and strengthen coordination among government agencies. Scheduled to begin on 11 September 2026, the exercise will test command structures, rapid deployment, inter-agency communication and crisis-management procedures under the National Crisis Management Doctrine. It is the first time the exercise is being held outside the FCT. ONSA said lessons from the exercise will be compiled into a final report to improve future emergency-response operations.	NATIONAL SECURITY; ONSA; RAPID RESPONSE	THE GUARDIAN
CHANNELS TV	8TH SEPTEMBER 2026	War: Russia Resumes Strikes on Kyiv Amid US Mediation Efforts	Russia has resumed strikes on Kyiv and surrounding areas after a three-day pause ordered by President Vladimir Putin during a weekend visit by US President Donald Trump’s envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, to Russia and Ukraine. The attacks began early Tuesday, with Ukrainian authorities reporting Russian drone strikes on the Boryspil and Fastiv districts and explosions across Kyiv. Buildings were reportedly hit in the capital and the two surrounding districts, while fires and plumes of smoke were observed. Kyiv authorities declared an air-raid alert and urged residents to seek shelter. The resumption of attacks comes despite recent diplomatic efforts by the Trump administration to revive peace negotiations. Witkoff had described the discussions with Russia and Ukraine as showing progress and raised the possibility of renewing three-way peace talks aimed at ending the war. Russia’s state news agency TASS confirmed that the three-day pause had expired, while Ukrainian officials reported the renewed attacks shortly afterwards. The developments highlight the difficulty of sustaining a ceasefire even as diplomatic efforts continue.	RUSSIA; KYIV; U.S	CHANNELS TV
THE GUARDIAN	7TH SEPTEMBER 2026	2027: NDC Denies Alleged Breach of Due Process in Candidate Nomination, Says It Fielded Governorship Candidates in 28 States	The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has denied reports that it failed to field governorship candidates in 12 states ahead of the 2027 elections, insisting it complied with relevant electoral laws and guidelines. The party said it has nominated candidates in all 28 states where governorship elections are scheduled. The denial follows allegations of due-process violations and claims that the party used political negotiations and placeholders in selecting some candidates. The NDC said the reports were false and aimed at undermining its growing political presence. Separately, suspected political thugs attacked the party’s secretariat in Emohua, Rivers State, destroying campaign billboards, banners and other materials.	NDC; INEC	THE GUARDIAN
VANGUARD	7TH SEPTEMBER 2026	2027 Presidency: Labour Party’s Datti Baba-Ahmed Declares None of the Major Contenders Will Improve Nigeria, Including Peter Obi	Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, Labour Party’s 2023 vice-presidential candidate, has said none of President Bola Tinubu’s major opponents in the 2027 presidential election has the capacity to improve Nigeria. Speaking on the MicOn Podcast, he said Tinubu, Peter Obi and Atiku Abubakar had all, at different times, been associated with political parties and administrations responsible for Nigeria’s current challenges. Baba-Ahmed urged Tinubu to prepare to leave office but argued that his major challengers would not deliver the change Nigeria needs. He described himself as the only leading contender who had never belonged to a ruling party and advocated for a “new Nigeria.” He also criticised Tinubu’s administration, accusing it of weakening political parties, and questioned Atiku’s criticism of the president over his US records.	YUSUF AHMED-DATTI; LABOUR PARTY	VANGUARD
DAILY TRUST	7TH SEPTEMBER 2026	Foreign Aid Bill: CSOs Reject Proposed NGO Regulator, Urge Senate to Strengthen Existing Agencies	A bill before the Senate seeking to regulate and require disclosure of foreign aid, grants and donations received by NGOs and other entities has triggered opposition from civil society organisations. Sponsored by Senator Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo, the bill proposes a Foreign Aid Regulatory Commission with powers to register recipients, demand financial records, conduct audits and inspections, and sanction or suspend non-compliant organisations. The Senate says the legislation is needed to improve transparency, prevent misuse of foreign funds and address potential national security risks. However, CSOs argue that Nigeria already has institutions and systems capable of monitoring foreign funding and that the proposed commission would create overlapping regulations, increase compliance burdens and potentially restrict civic space. They are calling for existing institutions to be strengthened rather than creating a new regulatory body.	FOREIGN AID BILL; SENATE	DAILY TRUST
DAILY TRUST	7TH SEPTEMBER 2026	‘Our Votes Must Count’ – Peter Obi Charges INEC to Ensure Credible Election, Calls for Issue-Based Campaigns Ahead of 2027	NDC presidential candidate Peter Obi has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure that the 2027 general election is free, fair, transparent and credible, urging the commission to resist any attempt to manipulate the process in favour of any political party. Speaking in Ogugu, Olamaboro LGA of Kogi State, during the unveiling of Chief Peter Ameh as the NDC Kogi East Senatorial Candidate, Obi said his major concern ahead of the election is not who wins, but whether Nigerians will be able to protect their votes and ensure that their choices are respected. Obi said the country’s worsening hunger and poverty should be central to political discussions, stressing that the next government must address issues including education, insecurity and decent living conditions. He also called on political candidates to run issue-based campaigns without threats or empty promises, while urging Nigerians to elect leaders who can genuinely address their problems. Ameh similarly charged voters to remain vigilant, vote and protect their votes, emphasising that their electoral choices would determine the quality of representation, infrastructure and opportunities available to future generations.	NDC; PETER OBI; INEC; 2027 GENERAL ELECTIONS	DAILY TRUST
DAILY TRUST	7TH SEPTEMBER 2026	‘No Political Relevance’ - Adamawa APC Downplays Binani’s Ex-Campaign DG’s Defection to ADC	The Adamawa State chapter of the APC has dismissed the defection of Mohammed Musa Sani, former Director General of Senator Aisha Binani’s 2023 governorship campaign council, to the ADC, describing him as politically irrelevant and insisting that his exit would have no impact on the party. APC State Secretary Victor Dogo said the party remains united and focused on preparations for the 2027 general elections. The ADC, however, welcomed Sani’s defection, describing it as a significant addition to its growing political movement in Adamawa. The party said his decision reflects growing confidence in the ADC as a platform for political participation, unity and change, particularly given his previous role in Binani’s governorship campaign.	DEFECTION; APC; ADC; ADAMAWA STATE
THE GUARDIAN	7TH SEPTEMBER 2026	Osun 2026: APC, Oyebamiji Fail to Challenge Adeleke’s Victory as 21-Day Petition Window Expires	The APC and its 2026 Osun governorship candidate, Bola Oyebamiji (AMBO), have not filed a petition challenging Governor Ademola Adeleke’s victory in the August 15 governorship election, following the expiration of the 21-day window for filing election petitions. The Election Petition Tribunal in Osogbo reportedly received no petition from the APC, Oyebamiji or any of the other defeated candidates before the deadline expired on Saturday. Adeleke, who contested on the Accord platform, won the election with 511,067 votes, defeating Oyebamiji of the APC, who scored 444,815 votes. The APC had initially constituted a legal team to review the election results and consider its options, but no petition was ultimately filed. Oyebamiji had also congratulated Adeleke on his re-election on August 29.	OSUN 2026	THE GUARDIAN
THE GUARDIAN	4TH SEPTEMBER 2026	ICC Dismisses Anonymous Petition Seeking Probe Into Nigeria’s Kidnapping Crisis	The International Criminal Court (ICC) has dismissed an anonymous petition seeking an investigation into alleged crimes against humanity linked to systemic kidnappings in Nigeria. The ICC Pre-Trial Chamber II dismissed the application at the threshold, ruling that it was not properly before the court and lacked a legal basis. The Federal Government welcomed the dismissal but criticised the initial processing of the petition, arguing that it bypassed established procedures. Attorney-General Lateef Fagbemi stressed that the ICC Prosecutor, a State Party referral, or a UN Security Council referral are the proper channels for triggering such proceedings. He also emphasised the principle of complementarity, noting that Nigerian authorities retain primary jurisdiction over domestic crimes such as kidnapping and banditry. The government clarified that no ICC investigation has been opened against Nigeria and no adverse finding has been made against the Nigerian government or its institutions.	CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY; ICC; FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA	THE GUARDIAN
THE GUARDIAN	4TH SEPTEMBER 2026	2027 Elections: Obi, Falana, Civil Society Raise Alarm Over Electoral Credibility	With the 2027 general elections approaching, political parties, civil society organisations and experts have raised concerns about the credibility of the electoral process, citing risks of manipulation, violence, intimidation, political interference and weaknesses in INEC’s systems. Peter Obi urged Nigerians to protect their votes at polling units, arguing that stronger voter coordination could prevent intimidation. He also raised concerns about potential glitches with INEC’s IReV platform. His running mate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, urged voters to prioritise competent leadership, while dismissing claims that control of more than 30 states would guarantee victory in the presidential election. Human rights lawyer Femi Falana warned that Nigeria’s democracy is at a critical juncture, highlighting political violence, flawed party primaries, weak electoral credibility and declining judicial integrity. He called for INEC’s autonomy, stronger action against vote buying and violence, and greater citizen participation in protecting democracy. The ADC said it would participate fully in the 2027 elections despite concerns about INEC’s preparations, while demanding transparency over the redeployment of electoral officers and recruitment of ad hoc staff. HURIWA, meanwhile, questioned Nyesom Wike’s claim that he could deliver Rivers State and the FCT to President Bola Tinubu, arguing that such declarations could undermine public confidence in electoral neutrality. Communication scholars also urged INEC to ensure its digital systems are reliable and accessible, particularly in rural areas. Meanwhile, the Movement for Credible Elections has begun consultations with opposition parties and presidential candidates in an effort to build a common platform and identify a possible consensus opposition candidate.	2027 GENERAL ELECTIONS	THE GUARDIAN
THE GUARDIAN	4TH SEPTEMBER 2026	PFIPC Scandal: Court Grants Adeyemi Access to Lawyers, Defers Bail Application	The Federal High Court in Abuja has granted detained Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi access to his lawyers in the ongoing PFIPC controversy but declined to order his release on bail. Justice Obiora Egwuatu directed the police and Attorney-General of the Federation to respond to Adeyemi’s fundamental rights suit within 72 hours. His bail request and demand for access to a doctor will be considered after the responses, with the case adjourned to September 9. Adeyemi is being investigated over alleged forgery, fraud and impersonation linked to the disputed PFIPC, while he denies the allegations and has called for an independent investigation.	PFIPC SCANDAL	THE GUARDIAN
VANGUARD	4TH SEPTEMBER 2026	Defence Minister Accuses El-Rufai of Dividing Kaduna, Praises Uba Sani’s Reconciliation Efforts	Minister of Defence Christopher Musa has accused former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai of deepening divisions in Kaduna during his tenure. Musa alleged that insecurity and policies under El-Rufai created divisions between northern and southern Kaduna communities, while also accusing the former governor of paying bandits and demolishing properties over personal disagreements. He praised Governor Uba Sani for efforts to restore unity and freedom of movement in the state.	MINISTER OF DEFENCE; NASIR EL-RUFAI; KADUNA STTAE	VANGUARD
VANGUARD	4TH SEPTEMBER 2026	Oyo Assembly Approves N210bn Supplementary Budget, Raises 2026 Budget to N1.1tn	The Oyo State House of Assembly has approved a N210 billion supplementary appropriation for the 2026 fiscal year, raising the state’s total approved budgetary provision from N892.09 billion to N1.102 trillion. The approval was granted during plenary on Thursday following the consideration and adoption of the report of the House Committee on Finance, Appropriation and State Economic Planning on the Oyo State Supplementary Finance Bill, 2026. The committee said the bill was subjected to detailed scrutiny and considered clause by clause, with its recommendations guided by submissions from the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning and projections in the state’s Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF). The additional N210 billion is to be sourced from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of Oyo State for the financial year ending December 31, 2026. The supplementary funding is intended to provide additional resources for critical government programmes, infrastructure, public works and other priority projects, as well as enable the state to meet emerging financial obligations and additional expenditure requirements before the end of the fiscal year. The House subsequently adopted the committee’s recommendations and passed the supplementary finance bill, pushing Oyo’s approved 2026 financial provision above the N1 trillion mark.	OYO STATE; 2026 SUPPLEMENTARY BUDGET	VANGUARD
THE GUARDIAN	4TH SEPTEMBER 2026	NDC: Obi, Kwankwaso Assure Supporters of Vote Protection, Warn Against Intimidation Ahead of 2027	Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has assured supporters that they would not be intimidated at polling units during the 2027 general elections and urged Nigerians to take responsibility for protecting their votes. Speaking in Port Harcourt, Obi said the 2027 elections would be harder to manipulate than the 2023 polls. He also raised concerns about possible manipulation or technical failures on INEC’s Result Viewing Portal (IReV), saying his party would have mechanisms to counter such challenges. NDC vice-presidential candidate Rabiu Kwankwaso urged Nigerians to vote for competent leadership and dismissed the belief that the ruling party’s control of more than 30 states would guarantee victory in the presidential election. He cited the defeat of incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015 as an example that control of states does not automatically determine presidential election outcomes.	2027 GENERAL ELECTIONS; NDC	THE GUARDIAN
VANGUARD	4TH SEPTEMBER 2026	Governor Fubara Describes Rivers’ N1.85tn 2026 Budget as “Breath of Fresh Air,” Signs Bill Into Law	Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has signed the state’s 2026 Appropriation Bill into law, describing it as a “breath of fresh air” and expressing optimism that it would usher in a new phase of development and cooperation between the executive and legislative arms of government. The budget, christened the “Budget of Resilience for Growth and Development,” was passed by the Rivers State House of Assembly earlier on Thursday. Fubara had presented a proposed fiscal estimate of N1.854 trillion in July, representing a 24.5% increase over the revised 2025 financial figures. Fubara said the signing marked the beginning of a healthier relationship with the State House of Assembly and assured lawmakers of his administration’s commitment to the progress and development of Rivers State. He also acknowledged the role of former governor and FCT Minister Nyesom Wike in facilitating the meeting and developments that led to the passage and signing of the budget. However, the Assembly said it amended some provisions of the governor’s proposal. Speaker Martin Amaewhule disclosed that lawmakers reduced the proposed N6 billion allocation to PAMO University of Medical Sciences, citing the university management’s failure to adequately explain the utilisation of previous funds and its absence from an Assembly hearing. Part of the reduced allocation was redirected to the Rivers State Primary Healthcare Development Board as part of the Assembly’s oversight responsibility.	RIVERS STATE	VANGAURD
VANGUARD	4TH SEPTEMBER 2026	Niger Coup: FG Denies Claims of Nigeria, ECOWAS Support, Reaffirms Commitment to Democracy	The Federal Government has denied claims that Nigeria and ECOWAS supported the recent failed coup attempt in Niger Republic. Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Sola Enikanolaiye described the claims as false and deliberate misinformation, reaffirming Nigeria’s opposition to military coups and unconstitutional changes of government. He said Nigeria remains committed to democracy, constitutional order and regional stability, and urged the public to disregard misleading narratives circulating online.	NIGER COUP	VANGUARD
THIS DAY	3RD SEPTEMBER 2026	‘They Will Come for My Head’ – Wike Says He’ll Be First Target of Atiku, Obi If Tinubu Loses in 2027	FCT Minister Nyesom Wike said he expects to become a major target of Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi if President Bola Tinubu loses the 2027 presidential election, citing his strong support for Tinubu’s re-election. Wike said, “I will be the first politician that Atiku, Obi will hunt for his head,” adding, “I know they will come for my head.” He insisted that the possibility of political retaliation would not weaken his support for Tinubu, saying his focus remains on securing the president’s re-election. Wike also described himself as the “General Commander of the Political Infantry” in Rivers State and the FCT, while defending his continued political involvement in Rivers State. He criticised the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), accusing it of becoming politically partisan and using its 2026 conference as a platform for opposition politicians. He also attacked former Rivers governor Rotimi Amaechi, questioned his suitability for the vice presidency, and criticised the governors of Imo and Kwara states over their alleged opposition to him. On the inclusion of individuals facing EFCC investigations in Tinubu’s 2027 campaign structure, Wike argued that being investigated or charged does not amount to conviction and should not automatically prevent anyone from participating in political campaigns.	NYESOM WIKE; 2027; NDC; ADC; APC	THIS DAY
VANGUARD	3RD SEPTEMBER 2026	2027: Former Reps Member Petitions EFCC, Gives 14-Day Ultimatum to Reopen Atiku Financial Crimes Case	Former House of Representatives member and Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) member Ehiozuwa Agbonayinma has petitioned the EFCC, demanding that it reopen and prosecute alleged financial crimes involving former Vice President and ADC presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar. Through his lawyer, Hannibal Egbe Uwaifo, SAN, Agbonayinma gave the EFCC 14 days to act on the petition, which references a 2006 EFCC report and a 2010 US Senate subcommittee report that he says raised allegations of corruption, money laundering and other financial crimes against Atiku. He argued that the EFCC failed to prosecute the former vice president after he left office, when constitutional immunity no longer applied. The petitioner warned that he would take legal action against the EFCC if it fails to act within the 14-day period.	ATIKU ABUBAKAR; FINANCIAL CRIMES; 2027 GENERAL ELECTIONS	VANGUARD
VANGUARD	3RD SEPTEMBER 2026	PFIPC Probe: Reps Panel Exonerates Gbajabiamila, Uncovers Forged Presidential, National Assembly Documents	The House of Representatives Ad Hoc Committee investigating the purported Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC) has preliminarily exonerated Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, saying it found no evidence that he authorised, established or participated in the organisation. The committee said documents allegedly linking Gbajabiamila and the Presidency to the PFIPC—including an appointment letter—were forged or falsely attributed to the State House. The committee also uncovered an alleged fake presidential Executive Order, a fabricated National Assembly document, forged State House correspondence, unauthorised occupation of a Federal Secretariat office, about 39 purported employees, 58 bank accounts linked to the alleged principal figure, and an alleged ₦400 million transaction. It said investigations into individuals and government institutions involved are continuing, with a final report expected to determine responsibility and possible prosecution or sanctions.	PFIPC SCANDAL	VANGUARD
THE GUARDIAN	3RD SEPTEMBER 2026	2027: Adeleke, Accord Warn Members Against Anti-Party Activities, Threaten Sanctions	Ahead of the 2027 general elections, Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke and leaders of the Accord party have warned members against anti-party activities, saying severe sanctions will be imposed on anyone found supporting candidates of other political parties. At a stakeholders’ meeting chaired by Adeleke, the party cited reports of some Accord members allegedly backing legislative candidates of the PDP, APM, APP and APC. The meeting resolved disagreements surrounding the selection of legislative candidates and directed members to unite behind the party’s candidates ahead of the 2027 polls. The party leadership also ordered the activation of monitoring mechanisms to identify members involved in anti-party activities and a committee to intervene in constituencies where such cases are reported. Adeleke urged party candidates to engage all segments of the party and run an inclusive campaign, while commending members for their support during the recent electoral process.	OSUN STATE; 2027 GENERAL ELECTIONS	THE GUARDIAN
VANGAURD	3RD SEPTEMBER 2026	2027 Elections: PDP Calls Out Borno State Commissioner Over Reported Threat Against Non-APC Supporters	The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has condemned a reported threat by Borno State Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Sainna Buba, to flog people who refuse to support the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 elections. PDP National Publicity Secretary Jungudo Haruna Mohammed described the reported remark as unbecoming of a public officer, arguing that threats and inflammatory rhetoric could alienate voters and potentially work against the APC at the polls. He also warned that such statements could heighten tensions and undermine the peaceful conduct of the 2027 elections, particularly in Borno State, which he described as politically and security-wise fragile. The PDP called on political parties and their supporters to reject violence and provocative rhetoric. The party also urged the Borno State governor to take action against the commissioner, while advising its members not to retaliate with inflammatory statements.	BORNO STATE; APC; PDP	VANGUARD
LEADERSHIP NEWS	3RD SEPTEMBER 2026	Court Nullifies APC Zamfara North Senatorial Primaries, Orders Fresh Exercise Within 14 Days	A Federal High Court in Gusau has nullified the APC’s May 19, 2026 primary election for Zamfara North Senatorial District, ruling that no valid primary was conducted. Justice Hassan Dikko ruled that the process was marred by overvoting and non-compliance with the APC Constitution, party guidelines and the Electoral Act, following a suit by senatorial aspirant Dr. Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi against the emergence of Senator Sahabi Ya’u Kaura as the party’s 2027 candidate. The court ordered the APC to conduct a fresh primary within 14 days, meaning the exercise must be held by September 14, 2026. While Shinkafi welcomed the ruling and urged strict compliance with electoral rules, Ya’u’s counsel said the legal team would study the judgment before deciding whether to appeal.	APC PRIMARIES	LEADERSHIP NEWS
VANGUARD	3RD SEPTEMBER 2026	Plateau: Mutfwang Appoints Assembly Service Commission Chairman, 14 Liaison Officers	Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang has approved fresh appointments to strengthen the state’s governance structure and improve service delivery. The appointments include Rt. Hon. Titus Alams as Chairman of the Plateau State House of Assembly Service Commission, Mrs. Sarah Buge as Executive Secretary of the Plateau Water Sector Regulatory Commission, Mrs. Felicia Raymond Dabo as Commissioner II of the Local Government Service Commission, and Hon. Kenpiya Best as Senior Special Assistant on the School Feeding Programme. The governor also appointed 14 Liaison Officers across various parts of the state, including Jos East, Qua’an Pan North, Mangu North East, Barkin Ladi, Jos North North, Jos North West, Langtang North North, Langtang North Central, Langtang South, Jos South, Kanke and Pankshin North. The appointments, according to the Secretary to the State Government, Samuel Jatau, are intended to consolidate the administration’s governance structure and ensure effective implementation of government policies and programmes across sectors and local government areas. Mutfwang congratulated the appointees and charged them to demonstrate accountability, transparency, professionalism, dedication and commitment in carrying out their responsibilities.	PLATEAU STATE; APPOINTMENTS	VANGAURD
THE GUARDIAN	3RD SEPTEMBER 2026	Kano: Governor Yusuf Condemns Rising Insecurity, Vows Decisive Action After Bandit Attacks in Five LGAs	Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf has condemned recent bandit attacks in several parts of the state, including Chiromawa, Garum-Mallam, Beli in Rogo, Bebeji and Gwarzo Local Government Areas. The attacks reportedly left at least five people dead, including the APC chairman in Rogo, while communities affected by the violence suffered significant disruption. Governor Yusuf described the attacks as deeply disturbing and unacceptable, and assured affected residents that his administration would take decisive measures, in collaboration with security agencies, to prevent further attacks and protect lives and property. He directed authorities to strengthen surveillance, intelligence gathering and rapid-response mechanisms in vulnerable areas. The governor also urged residents to remain calm, cooperate with security personnel and provide credible information that could help identify and apprehend the perpetrators. He commended security agencies for their efforts and called for sustained intelligence-led operations across the state. Yusuf expressed condolences to families of those killed, prayed for the recovery of the injured and the safe return of abducted persons, while reaffirming his administration’s commitment to restoring peace and security across Kano.	RISING INSECURITY	THE GUARDIAN
VANGUARD	3RD SEPTEMBER 2026	2027: Army Begins Training, Charges Troops to Uphold Rights and Political Neutrality Ahead of Elections	The Nigerian Army has intensified preparations for the 2027 general elections by sensitising personnel who may be deployed for election duties on lawful conduct, professionalism, political neutrality and respect for fundamental human rights. The initiative, led by the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 81 Division, Major General Adebayo Babalola, is designed to ensure troops understand their constitutional responsibilities and operate responsibly before, during and after the elections. The sensitisation seminar, held at the Nigerian Army School of Finance and Administration in Lagos, focused on the legal framework governing military involvement in election security, including rules relating to arrests, searches, use of force and interactions with civilians. The Army stressed that personnel cannot use ignorance of the law as an excuse for misconduct and urged commanders to ensure troops deployed for electoral duties are properly prepared. The development comes alongside broader efforts by the police, military and other security agencies to strengthen inter-agency coordination and election security ahead of 2027. Recent multi-agency training has emphasised professionalism, neutrality and collaboration across the pre-election period, election day and the post-election phase, with the aim of protecting voters and maintaining public confidence in the electoral process.	2027 GENERAL ELECTIONS	VANGUARD
VANGUARD	3RD SEPTEMBER 2026	‘We’re Not Stealing Venezuelan Oil’: US Energy Secretary Defends Multibillion-Dollar Deal	US Energy Secretary Chris Wright has dismissed claims that the United States is “stealing Venezuelan oil” following the signing of multibillion-dollar energy deals giving US companies access to a significant portion of Venezuela’s oil resources. Wright said, “We’re stealing Venezuelan oil. Of course, that’s not true at all,” arguing that the oil remains owned by the Venezuelan people while private companies provide investment and technology to develop it. The deal covers more than 65 billion barrels of oil, with Caracas projecting $209 billion in earnings over 25 years. Wright also stressed the need to restore Venezuela’s electricity infrastructure to support oil production. On elections, he said Venezuela’s return to democratic elections remains part of the plan but argued that reforms and economic stabilisation must come first. US President Donald Trump has said Venezuela is “not ready yet” for elections following the removal of Nicolás Maduro in January.	U.S; VENEZUELA	VANGUARD
PREMIUM TIMES	2ND SEPTEMBER 2026	Controversy Erupts as Akwa Ibom State Government Declares Akpabio ‘Acting President’ in Deleted Facebook Post	Controversy has erupted after the Akwa Ibom State Government described Senate President Godswill Akpabio as the “Acting President of Nigeria” in a post on its official Facebook page during his visit to Uyo on Tuesday. The post, which announced Akpabio’s arrival for the official reception of Ibom Air’s newly acquired Airbus A220-300, was later edited to remove the controversial description. The development comes amid President Bola Tinubu’s ongoing three-week vacation in Europe and Vice President Kashim Shettima’s recent trip to Angola to represent him at an African Union summit. Shettima returned to Nigeria on Monday, raising renewed attention to the constitutional procedure governing presidential authority when both the president and vice president are temporarily absent. Section 145 of the 1999 Constitution provides for the president to transmit a written declaration to the Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives when proceeding on vacation or otherwise unable to perform his functions. It does not, however, ordinarily make the Senate president acting president simply because both the president and vice president are out of the country. Section 146 concerns succession where the offices of both president and vice president become vacant. Akwa Ibom Commissioner for Information Aniekan Umanah subsequently distanced the state government from the description, saying it was likely an error by the social media handler. He insisted that “there’s nothing like that (acting president) in the country” and said nobody authorised the reference. Akpabio, a former governor of Akwa Ibom, was in Uyo as part of activities marking the state’s 39th anniversary and the arrival of Ibom Air’s latest aircraft.	AKWA IBOM STATE	PREMIUM TIMES
THE GUARDIAN	2ND SEPTEMBER 2026	Court Adjourns Atiku’s Suit Challenging Tinubu’s 2027 Eligibility to September 28	A Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s suit challenging President Bola Tinubu’s eligibility to contest the 2027 presidential election to September 28, 2026. The adjournment followed a dispute over the service of the originating summons on Tinubu. Atiku’s counsel said they had been unable to personally serve the President and sought an order allowing substituted service. Tinubu’s lawyer, however, offered to accept the process on his client’s behalf but was asked to provide evidence that he had the President’s mandate to do so. The court subsequently adjourned the matter. Separately, the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) called on Tinubu to withdraw from the 2027 presidential race over allegations linked to a U.S. drug-related case. The party cited Tinubu’s reported legal efforts to prevent the release of documents sought from the FBI and DEA, arguing that the matter has heightened public interest ahead of the 2027 election.	ATIKU ABUBAKAR; FEDERAL HIGH COURT; PRESIDENT TINUBU	THE GUARDIAN
THE GUARDIAN	2ND SEPTEMBER 2026	2027: PRP Presidential Candidate Donald Duke Raises Alarm Over Growing Political Desperation Ahead of Elections	PRP presidential candidate Donald Duke has alleged that some desperate politicians are resorting to human sacrifice and other dangerous practices in their quest to win the 2027 elections. Speaking in Abuja during an engagement with the Savannah Centre’s Council of the Wise, Duke warned that political desperation could fuel violence and plunge the country into crisis. He also called for a fundamental reform of Nigeria’s electoral system, particularly the process of appointing INEC leadership and officials, to ensure greater independence from political influence. Duke further advocated tougher sanctions for electoral violence and other actions that undermine democracy. Former Chief Justice of Nigeria Olukayode Ariwoola, who led the delegation, urged presidential candidates to conduct campaigns without hate speech, inflammatory rhetoric and statements capable of triggering violence. He also called on candidates and their supporters to comply with INEC rules and guidelines.	PRP; 2027 GENERAL ELECTIONS	THE GUARDIAN
DAILY TRUST	2ND SEPTEMBER 2026	Police Probe Three Political Actors Over Alleged Inciting Comments Ahead of 2027	The Nigeria Police Force has launched investigations into alleged inciting remarks by Borno State Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development Sainna Buba, Kuje Area Council Chairman Danjuma Shekwolo and Osun East Senator Francis Fadahunsi. The police said the comments, particularly those relating to the electoral process, constitute a criminal offence. Buba was accused of threatening residents who refused to support the APC in 2027, while Shekwolo reportedly warned Kuje residents to vote for the APC or leave the council. Fadahunsi was also questioned over alleged threats against Accord Party members ahead of the Osun governorship election. The Force said the cases were still under investigation and that the outcomes would be made public, while urging political actors to desist from inflammatory statements and members of the public to provide evidence that could support prosecution.	2027 GENERAL ELECTIONS	DAILY TRUST
DAILY TRUST	2ND SEPTEMBER 2026	2027: Atiku Pledges Full Local Government Autonomy, Direct Access to Federation Funds If Elected	ADC presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar has pledged to enforce the Supreme Court’s 2024 judgment granting financial autonomy to Nigeria’s 774 local governments if elected president in 2027. He promised to ensure that local government allocations from the Federation Account are paid directly to councils rather than routed through state governments. Atiku also accused the Tinubu administration of failing to enforce the judgment, alleging that state governors’ control of local government funds was being tolerated for political advantage ahead of the 2027 election. He argued that direct access to funds would improve grassroots development, accountability, public services and local governments’ capacity to address security and poverty. President Bola Tinubu had previously warned governors that he could issue an executive order to enforce direct funding of local governments if states failed to comply with the Supreme Court ruling.	ATIKU ABUBAKAR; 2027	DAILY TRUST
PREMIUM TIMES	2ND SEPTEMBER 2026	Governor Otti Mobilises Labour Party Stakeholders for Second-Term Bid, Urges Unity in Abia	Abia State Governor Alex Otti has begun mobilising Labour Party (LP) stakeholders in preparation for the 2027 elections, urging party leaders and members in Nsulu, Isiala Ngwa North LGA, to unite behind his administration and its development agenda. Speaking through the party’s National Vice Chairman, South-East, Ishmeal Onuoha, at the Nsulu Labour Party Stakeholders’ Summit, Otti called for inclusive leadership, peaceful collaboration and greater participation in party activities. He urged stakeholders to move beyond internal differences and work collectively to sustain the administration’s projects and policies. The summit, themed “Sustaining the Transformation: A United Labour Party in Nsulu for 2027 and Beyond,” focused heavily on building a formidable grassroots political structure ahead of the elections. Otti’s Chief of Staff, Caleb Ajagba, said the immediate task was to mobilise support for the governor’s second-term bid and other LP candidates, while announcing the planned inauguration of the Nsulu Labour Party Stakeholders’ Forum. LP state chairman Peter Azubuike and leaders of Otti’s political structure, Abia Arise, also called for greater cooperation among the three political blocs in Isiala Ngwa North – Nsulu, Ngwaukwu and Ntigha, to strengthen the party’s electoral chances. Stakeholders cited projects including the Umuomaiukwu Smart School and Abia International Airport as reasons for supporting the administration and urged members to commence grassroots mobilisation, including door-to-door campaigns, ahead of the 2027 polls.	LP; ABIA STATE; GOVERNOR ALEX OTTI	PREMIUM TIMES
PREMIUM TIMES	2ND SEPTEMBER 2026	Kwara Assembly Declares Two Lawmakers’ Seats Vacant Over APC-to-PDP Defection	The Kwara State House of Assembly has declared the seats of Saba Gideon (Edu Constituency) and Olusola Odetundun (Irepodun Constituency) vacant following their defection from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The decision followed a request from APC State Chairman Sunday Fagbemi, who asked the Speaker, Salihu Yakubu-Danladi, to declare the seats vacant in line with Section 109(1)(g) and (2) of the 1999 Constitution. During debate on the request, the House Leader, Abdulkadir Magaji, argued that lawmakers elected on a party platform are constitutionally required to remain members of that party during their tenure, except under circumstances recognised by the Constitution, including a division within the party. The APC maintained that there was no division within the party to justify the lawmakers’ defections. The two lawmakers are reportedly seeking re-election to their respective seats on the PDP platform in 2027.	KWARA STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY	PREMIUM TIMES
VANGUARD	2ND SEPTEMBER 2026	Xenophobia: Oyo Receives 70 Indigenes Evacuated From South Africa, Begins Reintegration	The Oyo State Government has received 70 indigenes evacuated from South Africa following xenophobic attacks and difficult conditions affecting Nigerians and other foreign nationals, and has commenced efforts to reintegrate them into their communities. The returnees comprise 42 adults and 28 minors who were forced to leave behind livelihoods, businesses and personal plans amid the attacks. Receiving them on behalf of Governor Seyi Makinde, the Executive Assistant on Migration and Homeland Security, ACG Segun Adegoke (rtd), said the government viewed their return not as a failure but as the beginning of a new chapter. Adegoke said the state government was assessing the returnees’ individual circumstances, health needs, skills and experiences abroad to determine appropriate areas of support and help them become economically productive. The returnees also underwent basic medical checks, including blood pressure and blood sugar screening. He encouraged them to use the skills, knowledge, networks and entrepreneurial experience gained abroad to rebuild their lives and contribute to the development of their communities. He also cautioned young Nigerians against irregular and dangerous migration, stressing that migration itself is not the problem, but unsafe routes and circumstances. The state government said it would continue to support safe and regular migration while creating opportunities for residents to prosper within Oyo State. Some of the returnees described their evacuation as painful, particularly because they had to abandon their livelihoods and businesses in South Africa.	XENOPHOBIA; OYO STATE; SOUTH AFRICA	VANGUARD
VANGUARD	2ND SEPTEMBER 2026	Iran-US Conflict Escalates as Tehran Strikes US Bases in Jordan, Bahrain, Iraq, Warns Allies of Wider Retaliation	The conflict between Iran and the United States has escalated sharply, with Iran launching missile and drone attacks against US military interests across the Middle East and warning that countries supporting Washington could face wider retaliation. Iranian media reported that Tehran targeted two US bases in Jordan, while Iran’s Revolutionary Guards claimed attacks on US positions in Bahrain and Iraq’s Kurdistan region. Jordan said it intercepted 10 Iranian ballistic missiles, while Kuwait also reported responding to Iranian missile and drone attacks. Air raid alerts were heard in Bahrain, a key US ally in the Gulf. The latest Iranian strikes followed renewed US attacks on Iranian targets, including sites near the strategically important Strait of Hormuz. Iranian authorities reported casualties from the US strikes, including seven people killed and eight wounded in Khuzestan, while Iran’s Red Crescent said four people, including a child, were killed and more than 50 wounded by shrapnel in Hormozgan. US President Donald Trump said the American strikes were carried out in retaliation for what Washington described as an Iranian attempt to mine the Strait of Hormuz and attacks on a US military base in Jordan. He warned Iran that any further retaliation would trigger attacks at a “much harder and higher” level. Iran, however, vowed to respond forcefully. Revolutionary Guards officials warned that countries cooperating with US forces would face “more severe, more widespread and destructive responses.” Tehran has also continued to keep the Strait of Hormuz closed, while Washington maintains a counter-blockade of Iranian ports. The escalation comes after a fragile ceasefire collapsed following attacks involving commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global energy route through which about one-fifth of the world’s oil supplies flowed before the conflict. Despite the worsening confrontation, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Tehran remained prepared to respond to any US move toward a diplomatic agreement, while warning that renewed US pressure and threats could derail diplomacy.	U.S-IRAN CONFLICT	VANGUARD
THE GUARDIAN	1ST SEPTEMBER 2026	Single Candidacy: Opposition Begins Coalition Talks Ahead of 2027 Amid Fresh ADC Rift Over Atiku	Nigeria’s opposition parties have begun formal discussions aimed at producing a single presidential candidate and a common platform for the 2027 elections. The initiative, led by the G100 and the House of Representatives Minority Caucus, brought together representatives of several opposition parties, although Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi were absent. The coalition is proposing a four-year transition government and national reset programme, with five working groups expected to develop a framework covering opposition unity, political reforms and the emergence of a common presidential candidate within four weeks. However, the process faces an immediate challenge: a faction of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), led by Nafiu Bala Gombe, has rejected the proposed coalition and disowned Atiku Abubakar as the party’s presidential candidate. The faction says the ADC will contest the 2027 election independently and has warned Atiku against using the party's name. Former Cross River State governor Donald Duke also argued that the opposition has enough combined electoral strength to defeat the APC if it unites, but warned that numerical strength alone will not be enough without effective structures for mobilising voters and protecting votes.	OPPOSITION; 2027	THE GUARDIAN
THE GUARDIAN	1ST SEPTEMBER 2026	“Profoundly Embarrassing”: Obi Condemns Tinubu’s Bid to Restrict Release of FBI Records	Peter Obi has criticised President Bola Tinubu over a reported legal effort to restrict the release of FBI, U.S. Department of Justice and DEA records relating to past investigations allegedly connected to Tinubu. The criticism follows a 16-page court filing in which Tinubu’s lawyers reportedly argued that releasing the records could violate the President’s privacy rights. Obi described the move as “profoundly embarrassing,” arguing that public officials should be prepared to address legitimate questions about their past rather than shield potentially uncomfortable information from public scrutiny. The controversy centres on records linked to historical allegations, including a 1993 U.S. civil forfeiture case involving about $460,000, which Tinubu has denied wrongdoing in. The FBI has acknowledged having responsive records but has sought to keep some materials from public disclosure, citing law-enforcement exemptions and concerns about sensitive information. A U.S. judge has allowed some materials to be submitted privately for judicial review. Meanwhile, Reno Omokri defended Tinubu, arguing that the existence of FBI records does not automatically mean they are criminal records, as law-enforcement databases can contain non-criminal personal, financial and background information. A U.S.-based lobbying firm, however, has alleged that the records relate to a criminal investigation into drug trafficking, claims that remain part of the ongoing dispute.	PRESIDENT TINUBU; PETER OBI; FBI	THE GUARDIAN
THE GUARDIAN	1ST SEPTEMBER 2026	Financial Autonomy: Edo NBA Accuses Assembly of Undermining Judicial Independence, Threatens Legal Action	The Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Benin Branch, has vowed to challenge the Edo State House of Assembly’s amendment of the Financial Autonomy Laws 2023, which was signed into law by Governor Monday Okpebholo despite opposition from JUSUN and PASAN. The newly inaugurated NBA Benin Chairman, Omorodion Omogui, argued that the amendment undermines the financial independence of the judiciary and legislature by placing them under greater executive influence. He said the amendment conflicts with provisions of the 1999 Constitution, particularly Sections 4, 5, 6 and 121(3). Omogui also pledged that the NBA would promote the rule of law and hold government accountable, while expanding support and welfare programmes for young, elderly and ailing lawyers.	EDO STATE; NBA; FINANCIAL AUTONOMY	THE GUARDIAN
DAILY TRUST	1ST SEPTEMBER 2026	Rivers Politics: Wike, Fubara Meet Amid Reconciliation Uncertainty	FCT Minister Nyesom Wike and Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara met in Port Harcourt on Sunday, signalling renewed efforts to consolidate the reconciliation between their political camps after months of conflict. The meeting, their first since Fubara withdrew his bid for a second term in 2027, came amid reports that reconciliation efforts had stalled. Fubara was accompanied by former APC Deputy National Chairman Sam Sam Jaja, while Wike was joined by APC governorship candidate Kingsley Chinda and reconciliation committee chairman Magnus Abe. The political rift between Wike and Fubara had triggered a prolonged crisis in Rivers State, including impeachment proceedings against Fubara and President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency. The two camps later reached a truce, with Fubara joining the APC and aligning with the Wike-backed Rainbow Coalition.	RIVERS STATE	DAILY TRUST
THE GUARDIAN	1ST SEPTEMBER 2026	2027: Northern Youths Reject Sheriff’s Appointment to APC Campaign Council	The Northern Youths Frontiers (NYF) has rejected the appointment of Senator Ali Modu Sheriff as the North-East Zonal Coordinator of the APC’s 2027 Presidential Campaign Council, citing concerns over the political and reputational implications of the appointment. The group argued that campaign officials are part of the public face of the Tinubu/Kashim campaign and should command broad public confidence, particularly in the North-East, where the insurgency has had significant social and economic consequences. It urged the APC to reconsider Sheriff’s appointment, while noting that allegations against him remain matters for the appropriate legal institutions. Meanwhile, the APC defended the inclusion of former Humanitarian Affairs Minister Betta Edu in the campaign council, saying she has not been found guilty of any offence. The party noted that the EFCC investigation involving Edu remains unresolved and argued that she could ultimately be cleared.	NORTHERN NIGERIA; APC CAMPAIGN COUNCIL	THE GUARDIAN
THE GUARDIAN	1ST SEPTEMBER 2026	IPOB Gives FG 14-Day Ultimatum to Hear Kanu’s Appeal, Threatens Election Boycott	IPOB has issued the Federal Government a 14-day ultimatum to ensure the listing and hearing of Nnamdi Kanu’s pending appeal against his conviction and life sentence. The group, through its Head of Directorate of State, Mazi Chris Nwaogu, accused the Federal Government of delaying the appeal by failing to file its respondent’s brief and take steps to have the case listed. IPOB warned that failure to act within 14 days could lead it to mobilise for a boycott of the 2027 general elections across the South-East and other areas it refers to as Biafraland. Nwaogu also criticised the judiciary’s handling of Kanu’s case and challenged the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn the 2022 Court of Appeal judgment that had discharged and acquitted Kanu.	IPOB; 2027 GENERAL ELECTIONS	THE GUARDIAN
THIS DAY	1ST SEPTEMBER 2026	2027: ADC Defends Atiku’s Plan to Reintroduce Petrol Subsidy, Rejects Presidency’s Criticism	The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has defended presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar’s proposal to reintroduce a form of petrol subsidy if elected in 2027, arguing that it would differ from the opaque subsidy system of the past. The party said the proposed intervention would be a capped and traceable production incentive for domestic refineries, aimed at bringing petrol prices down, reducing imports, supporting local refining and improving energy security. It rejected the Presidency’s criticism, including an estimated N19.1 trillion cost, arguing that the economic burden of high fuel prices on transport, food and production should also be considered. An ADC national leader, Chike Okogwu, separately proposed a technology-driven subsidy system using digital identity and payment infrastructure, including BVN-linked payments, GPS tracking and electronic records to make beneficiaries and subsidised fuel volumes traceable.	PETROL SUBSIDY	THIS DAY
DAILY TRUST	1ST SEPTEMBER 2026	2027: INEC Denies Altering NDC Candidate List, Launches Audit of Disputed Entries	The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has denied allegations by the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) that it altered the party’s candidate list for the 2027 general election. INEC said candidate nomination and substitution are the responsibility of political parties, not the commission. It explained that parties upload candidates through an electronic nomination portal using credentials issued to them, with activities recorded digitally. Following the NDC’s claims that some of its candidates, particularly for Anambra State House of Assembly seats, were removed and replaced with unauthorised names, INEC said it would conduct an internal audit of its digital records and access logs to establish how the disputed entries appeared. The commission also asked the NDC to provide evidence and identify any officials allegedly involved.	INEC; NDC	DAILY TRUST
THIS DAY	1ST SEPTEMBER 2026	2027: Wanted Ex-Minister Timipre Sylva Resigns from APC Amid Coup Plot Allegation	Former Bayelsa State Governor and Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, has resigned from the All Progressives Congress (APC), accusing the party of abandoning its founding ideals and the APC-led Federal Government of failing Nigerians. Sylva, a founding member of the APC, submitted his resignation electronically to the party’s Ward 4 chairman in Brass LGA, Bayelsa State. He said the decision followed consultations with family, associates and supporters, and criticised what he described as the party leadership’s belief that “all is fair in politics.” He also accused the Federal Government of disappointing the majority of Nigerians and said he expected citizens to use the next election to change the country’s political direction. The resignation comes as Sylva faces official pressure. He has been declared wanted by the EFCC over an alleged $14.86 million fraud case and is also wanted in connection with allegations arising from a reported coup plot, which he has denied. Sylva accused the EFCC of becoming partisan and said he was prepared for what he described as a potential “witch-hunt” following his resignation.	ALLEGED COUP PLOT; RESIGNATION; APC	THIS DAY
DAILY TRUST	1ST SEPTEMBER 2026	2027: Akwa Ibom Police Ban Unauthorised Political Rallies, Campaigns, Demand Prior Notice	The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has directed political parties, support groups and other organisations to formally notify the Command before holding rallies, campaigns, processions or other large political gatherings. Commissioner of Police Baba Mohammed Azare said the measure is aimed at preventing clashes, improving security planning, managing traffic and protecting participants and the public. The Police warned that thuggery, intimidation, destruction of property, unlawful road blockages, possession of offensive weapons and other acts capable of disrupting public order would attract sanctions.	AKWA IBOM STATE; POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS; 2027	DAILY TRUST
DAILY TRUST	1ST SEPTEMBER 2026	Insecurity: Gunmen Kill APC Ward Chairman, Abduct Three in Kano Community	Gunmen attacked Rantan village in Bebeji Local Government Area of Kano State on Sunday night, killing two people and abducting three others. The victims included the APC chairman of Rantan Ward, Alhaji Buba Garba, and his neighbour, Sulaiman Aliko, who was shot while attempting to help. The attackers also abducted the wife of the slain chairman and two children of a local businessman. The incident occurred barely two days after another attack in neighbouring Garun Malam LGA, where three people were reportedly killed and a traditional ruler abducted before security operatives rescued him. The Kano State Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, said security agencies had launched operations to track the attackers and prevent further incursions.	APC; KANO STATE; KILLING	DAILY TRUST